ORGANIZATION 

IN 

ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


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Metallurgical  and  Chem  ical  Engineering  P  o  we  r 


ORGANIZATION 


IN 


ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


BY 
SYDNEY  WHITMORE  ASHE,  B.  S.,  E.  E. 

CHAIRMAN   COMMITTEE   ON  SAFETY   AND   HEALTH   NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION   OP  COR- 
PORATION SCHOOLS;  MEMBER  EDUCATIONAL  COMMITTEE,  AND  SECRETARY  OF 

FOUNDRY   SECTION   OF  THE   NATIONAL   SAFETY   COUNCIL;   AUTHOR   "ELEC- 
TRIC    RAILWAYS,"    2    VOLUMES,   AND   "ELECTRICITY    EXPERIMENT- 
ALLY AND  PRACTICALLY  APPLIED;"  HEAD  EDUCATIONAL   AND 
WELFARE   DEPARTMENT   PITTSFIELD   WORKS   OF  THE 
GENERAL   ELECTRIC   COMPANY 


FIRST  EDITION 


McGRAW-HILL  BOOK  COMPANY,  INC, 

239  WEST  39TH  STREET.    NEW  YORK 


LONDON:  HILL  PUBLISHING  CO.,  LTD. 

6  &  8  BOUVERIE  ST.,  E.  C. 

1917 


COPYRIGHT,  1917,  BY  THE 
MCGRAW-HILL  BOOK  COMPANY,  INC. 


THE      M   A    !•  I,   K      I'HKHS      YOKK      FA 


PREFACE 

Success  in  organizing  accident  prevention  work  at  the  present 
time,  depends  upon  minimizing  labor  turnover,  upon  the  person- 
ality of  the  safety  engineer  in  charge,  upon  the  kind  of  educa- 
tional work  conducted,  and  upon  the  personal  interest  which 
this  work  is  able  to  arouse  in  the  average  employee.  Educa- 
tional work  should  be  carried  on  systematically  and  should  be 
adaptable  to  changing  work  conditions.  When  production  is 
heavy,  when  many  new  employees  are  being  hired,  when  epi- 
demics of  sickness  exist,  and  weather  conditions  are  severe,  when 
employees  have  become  accustomed  to  bulletin  boards,  moving- 
pictures  and  safety  literature  of  all  sorts,  and  enthusiasm  has 
waned,  the  safety  engineer  is  confronted  with  a  difficult  situation. 
When  this  time  arrives,  if  the  safety  man  familiar  with  the  edu- 
cational methods  of  other  companies,  changes  his  methods,  using 
new  ideas  obtained  at  safety  conventions,  puts  new  people  on 
committees,  institutes  new,  original  ways  of  presenting  his  facts, 
he  will  find  his  enthusiasm  return  and  results  will  follow.  An 
occasional  vacation  is  a  vital  factor  in  restoring  enthusiasm. 

The  following  volume  has  been  prepared  covering  successful 
educational  experiences  in  organizing  safety  work.  The  writer's 
experience  as  an  educator  has  been  an  important  asset  in  main- 
taining enthusiasm,  and  in  instituting  many  of  the  methods 
described  in  this  text.  It  is  hoped  that  the  data  presented  will 
be  helpful  to  others  and  will  result  in  further  spreading  the  gos- 
pel of  safety.  The  writer  appreciates  the  co-operation  of  the 
American  Iron  and  Steel  Institute,  "  Machinery,"  United  States 
Steel  Corporation,  National  Association  of  Corporation  Schools, 
National  Safety  Council,  and  the  General  Electric  Company  for 
the  use  of  illustrations  in  this  text. 

SYDNEY  W.  ASHE. 
April  1,  1917. 


383622 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

PREFACE v 

CHAPTER 

I.  Fellowship-System-Education-Discipline .    .       1 

II.  Specific  Accidents  Which  May  Be  Reduced  by  Educa- 
tional Means 26 

III.  Medical  and  Physical  Examination  of  Employees  with 

Special  Reference  to  Tuberculosis  and  Hernia   ...     71 

IV.  Emergency  Hospitals  and  First  Aid  Work 94 

V.  Records,  Analysis,  Ratio  Curves 109 

VI.  Accident  Relationships 123 

INDEX  128 


ORGANIZATION  IN 
ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

CHAPTER  I 

FELLOWSHIP — SYSTEM — EDUCATION — DISCIPLINE 

Introduction. — Safety  is  a  habit  and  psychologists  tell 
us  that  habits  are  formed  through  paths  of  least  resist- 
ance bringing  the  greatest  momentary  satisfaction. 

The  safety  habit — cautiousness — comes  from  frequent 
realization  of  consequences  of  dangers  avoided.  A  cautious 
person  is  seldom  injured;  when  such  is  injured  it  is  usually 
the  result  of  some  distracting  circumstance,  lack  of  con- 
centration on  the  task  immediately  in  hand.  A  cautious 
individual  will  seldom  invite  danger,  will  avoid  chances, 
cannot  be  tempted  into  recklessness,  and  always  involun- 
tarily visualizes  the  consequence  of  an  accident  before  tak- 
ing a  risk.  For  this  reason  education  is  the  most  effective 
medium  of  developing  habits  of  caution. 

Safeguards  are  of  value  in  avoiding  accidents,  because  of 
the  mental  sluggishness  which  comes  from  frequent  repeti- 
tion of  any  fixed  operation.  Leave  a  guard  off  for  a  time 
and  notice  how  quickly  an  accident  happens  to  the  operator 
accustomed  to  the  guard.  The  writer  has  in  mind  two 
accidents  which  happened  within  a  comparatively  short 
space  of  time  in  which  the  injured  were  caught  in  gears,  the 
guards  not  having  been  replaced  after  making  repairs, 
whereas  prior  to  the  gears  being  protected  they  had  been 
exposed  for  several  years  without  a  resulting  accident. 

"The  accident  prevention  problem  involves  two  essential  elements- — 
safeguarding  and  education,  in  each  of  which  there  is  more  or  less 
detail  work.  Experience  in  the  past  decade  has  conclusively  proven 
that  safeguarding  and  educational  work  in  any  plant  is  not  a  'one  man 

1 


7;Yt  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

job:'  that  satisfactory  results  can  only  be  secured  through  the  highest 
measure  of  cooperation  between  the  employer  and  his  employees,  and 
this  only  by  means  of  organization.  The  employer  himself  must  be 
vitally  interested  in  the  work  if  he  expects  to  educate  his  men  to  share 
the  responsibility  with  him.  The  men  must  be  given  a  part  to  perform 
in  it,  if  their  interest  is  to  be  aroused  and  maintained.  The  problem 
must  touch  them  somewhere,  and  they  must  be  brought  into  direct 
relationship  with  their  employer.  It  is  only  through  organization  that 
this  is  possible." 

R.  W.  CAMPWELL,  Past  President, 
National  Council  for  Industrial  Safety. 

In  instituting  accident  prevention  work,  it  is  important 
to  know  what  distribution  of  expense  is  proper  for  safe- 
guards versus  safety  educational  work.  Both  are  neces- 
sary and  opinions  differ  as  to  their  relative  effectiveness. 
On  the  theory  that  the  average  mechanic  or  workman  sel- 
dom sticks  to  a  single  task  for  any  appreciable  time,  it 
becomes  necessary  to  work  out  some  general  policy  of 
developing  the  " safety  habit."  This  can  best  be  accom- 
plished through  educational  means. 

Another  factor  that  must  be  considered  is  the  relative 
importance  of  bonuses  versus  discipline  as  accident  pre- 
ventives. Some  companies  have  obtained  effective  results 
with  the  bonus  system  and  prizes,  while  others  have  taken 
it  for  granted  that  they  expect  their  employees  to  be  cau- 
tious and  discourage  the  employment  of  those  who  are 
careless.  An  effective  system  of  reporting  accidents,  plot- 
ting ratio  curves  showing  the  relative  department  safety 
records,  making  the  men  feel  that  caution  is  an  important 
part  of  their  work,  or  keeping  close  watch  of  the  accident 
situation,  seems,  automatically,  to  reduce  accidents  about 
50  per  cent. ;  whether  the  increased  attention  of  some  execu- 
tive in  charge  creates  greater  individual  attention  in  the 
employees  to  the  task  in  hand,  or  whether  it  is  the  fear  of  a 
reprimand,  it  is  difficult  to  say,  but  the  fact  remains  that 
in  practically  all  cases  where  accidents  are  being  watched 
and  studied  in  our  industries,  progress  is  being  made  in  their 
reduction.  While  in  practically  all  cases  the  motive  that 
governs  safety  work  is  humanitarian,  still  the  financial 


FELLOWSHIP 


4  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

and  moral  gain,  and  the  gain  in  permanent  efficiency,  com- 
pensates to  a  large  degree  for  any  expenditure  of  time, 
effort,  or  money,  which  may  be  made. 

Imagine  the  moral  effect  on  the  public  of  a  large  railway 
system  which  can  state  authoritatively  that  during  the 
past  five  years  not  one  passenger  was  killed.  This  is  the 
record  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  Company. 

Many  companies  in  America,  in  instituting  safety  work, 
have  followed  implicitly  the  methods  used  with  such  suc- 
cess in  foreign  countries,  such  as  Germany,  in  guarding  all 
points  of  danger,  hoping  by  this  means  to  obtain  equal 
success.  Not  realizing  the  fact  that,  in  a  country  like 
Germany  with  its  military  training,  its  similarity  of  popu- 
lation, its  sureness  and  thoroughness  of  operations  of  the 
workingmen,  its  systematization,  conditions  are  entirely 
different  from  what  they  are  in  this  country,  they  have 
not  been  able  to  obtain  the  same  measure  of  success.  This 
point  is  well  illustrated  by  the  following  abstract  from 
Technical  Paper  No.  30  of  the  Department  of  Interior, 
Bureau  of  Mines,  by  D wight  E.  Woodbridge,  on  "Mine 
Accident  Prevention  at  Lake  Superior  Iron  Mines :" 

EFFECT  OF  SAFETY  PRECAUTIONS  ON  NUMBER 
OF  ACCIDENTS 

"Although  it  is  quite  probable  that  present  standards  would  demand 
a  larger  number  of  safety  devices  than  in  the  past,  and  would  require  the 
company  to  exercise  more  care  than  formerly,  one  must  still  conclude 
that  the  installation  of  these  devices,  while  of  undoubted  importance, 
does  not  reduce  the  number  of  accidents  to  the  extent  commonly  sup- 
posed. There  are  other  elements  that  must  be  given  the  most  careful 
consideration.  Of  these,  the  chief  is  the  education  of  the  workingmen 
to  a  sense  of  interdependence  and  individual  responsibility." 

Mr.  Robert  J.  Young,  Chief  of  the  Safety  Department  of 
the  Illinois  Steel  Company,  quotes  as  follows  in  connection 
with  the  value  of  educational  methods  for  accident  re- 
duction : 

"The  question  has  been  asked  as  to  what  efficiency  in  accident 
reduction  can  be  acquired  by  guarding  dangerous  places.  After  going 


FELLOWSHIP  5 

into  the  matter  very  carefully,  I  am  led  to  believe  that  not  more  than 
33^  per  cent,  of  efficiency  can  be  gained  by  guarding  machines  and  in 
connection  with  this  you  will  have  the  incidental  advertising  of  safety 
that  comes  with  the  installation  of  the  guards.  Usually  this  efficiency 
will  fall  below  25  per  cent. 

"In  talking  with  the  United  States  Government  expert  in  accident 
prevention,  I  asked  this  question.  He  placed  the  guarding  of  machines 
(not  taking  into  consideration  the  incidental  advertising  of  safety 
thereby)  at  not  greater  than  10  per  cent.  You  will  see,  therefore,  that 
if  you  are  going  to  make  a  material  reduction  in  your  accident  rate,  it 
must  be  done  largely  through  inspection  and  education." 

The  First  Aid  Department  of  the  American  Red  Cross, 
under  the  direction  of  Major  Robert  U.  Patterson,  U.  S. 
Army,  and  his  associates,  has  done  splendid  educational 
work  along  preventive  lines  and  first  aid.  A  large  number 
of  classes  on  first  aid  to  the  injured  have  been  carried  on 
throughout  this  country  under  their  supervision. 

Dr.  William  H.  Tolman  of  the  American  Museum  of 
Safety,  with  the  cooperation  of  the  Brooklyn  Rapid  Tran- 
sit Company  and  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  City  of 
New  York,  has  trained  thousands  of  school  children  in 
safety  methods.  If  this  work  is  started  in  other  cities  as 
it  has  been  in  New  York  and  continued  for  a  few  years, 
there  is  no  question  as  to  the  wonderful  benefit  that  will 
accrue  to  our  people  and  to  our  industries  as  a  whole. 

Many  of  our  railroads,  Y.  M.  C.  A.'s,  manufacturing 
companies,  etc.,  have  started  first  aid  classes,  realizing  the 
great  importance  of  educational  work  along  preventive 
lines.  In  carrying  on  educational  work  on  accident  preven- 
tion, we  should  not  lose  sight  of  two  important  things: 
(1)  Carrying  the  work  on  continuously;  and  (2)  the  neces- 
sity of  repetition. 

Mr.  Paul  Lupke,  in  a  paper  on  " Safety  First"  before  the 
National  Electric  Light  Association,  dwelt  upon  this  latter 
point  in  the  two  following  important  abstracts: 

"  Newspaper  men  and  other  publishers  and  writers  know  that  the 
people  do  not  learn  facts  and  arguments  on  any  subject  by  one  announce- 
ment, and  that  it  needs  constant  effort  of  iteration  and  reiteration  to 
send  the  matter  home  to  the  people  it  is  wished  to  reach."1 

PROFESSOR  WILLIAM  HOWARD  TAFT. 


6 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


"The  greatest  factor  operating  toward  the  prevention  of  accidents 
is  not  the  prevention  device  but  the  'prevention  spirit'."1 


If  we  all  realized  in  safety  work  that  each  employee  is 
a  human  being  with  a  human  interest,  has  his  family  and 

1  Power. 


FELLOWSHIP 


home,  no  matter  how  humble  his  position"may  be,  is  usually 
ambitious  and  has  a  natural  interest  in  his  work  and  in  the 
community,  reads  his  daily  paper,  etc.,  in  other  words,  likes 
to  live — we  would  see  quickly  that  it  is  possible  to  obtain 
the  cooperation  of  this  individual  in  developing  the  safety 
habit,  providing  we  use  educational  means  and  choose  the 
right  methods.  Habits  of  safety  in- 
stilled into  the  minds  of  working  people 
ultimately  find  their  way  into  improved 
quality  of  goods  manufactured  or  ser- 
vice performed. 

Get  the  safety  habit  is  a  good  slogan  and 
to  get  this  habit  we  must  have  our  men  ac- 
customed to  safe  conditions,  to  using  safe 
tools,  to  eliminating  chances,  to  removing 
sources  of  danger;  they  must  be  inter- 
ested in  having  the  best  departmental 
safety  record,  be  willing  to  obey  safety 
instructions,  and,  finally,  be  on  the  job 
when  anything  goes  wrong. 

The  reason  loose  habits  are  formed  is 
that  we  normally  follow  the  lines  of  least 
resistance  and  choose  a  path  that  brings 
the  greatest  momentary  satisfaction. 
The  reason  a  chance  is  taken  and  an  ac- 
cident results  many  times  is,  therefore, 
due  to  a  mental  feeling  of  unwillingness 
at  this  instant  to  use  the  extra  effort  to 
do  what  is  right.  To  overcome  this  feel- 
ing of  mental  inertia  we  must,  therefore, 
visualize  in  the  individual  at  this  particular  instant  a  pic- 
ture of  the  consequence  of  the  accident  if  the  chance  is 
taken.  To  have  this  condition  brought  about,  the  person 
about  to  take  the  chance  must  know  of  the  danger  and  must 
have  the  safety  habit.  This  habit  can  be  readily  developed 
by  continuous  safety  educational  work.L 

While  many  of  the  larger  manufacturing  and  public 
utility  companies  have  instituted  safety  measures,  a  num- 


Prize  'safety-first 
fob. 


8 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


ber  of  the  smaller  companies  have  done  little  in  this  direc- 
tion. In  many  places,  dark  passageways  in  need  of  efficient 
lighting  are  prevalent,  besides  utter  lack  of  safety  measures. 
Means  for  caring  for  injured  and  lack  of  any  form  of  safety 
educational  work  is  also  apparent.  If  these  companies 
would  only  realize  how  much  it  is  within  their  power  to 
accomplish  in  safety  work  with  comparatively  little  expense, 


IT  15  YOUS  DUTY  TO  Stl  THAT  AU  PLANS  AND  BRAKINGS 
FOR  MACHWtRr.TRACKS  AKO  OTHfR  EQUIPMENT 

PROVIDE  FOR 
WEQUATt  6UAR0S.RAIUN4S  AND  OIHfR  DtVlttS 

FOR  TH£ 
ABSOLUTE  PROTECTION  OF  WORKMEN. 


Lackawanna  Steel  Company,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Notice  pasted  in  drafting- 
room  instructing  engineers  and  draftsmen  to  provide  for  adequate  guards 
and  other  safety  devices  on  all  plans  and  drawings. 

the  country's  yearly  accident  rate  would  be  considerably 
reduced.  Many  excellent  safety  publications,  which  will 
give  beginners  in  safety  work  many  valuable  suggestions, 
are  issued  by  various  companies,  and  may  be  obtained 
free. 

Fellowship. — Fellowship,  system,  education  and  disci- 
pline are  the  four  necessary  elements  in  safety  and  health 
work.  In  carrying  on  any  educational  course  of  safety  and 
health,  these  elements  must  be  considered  separately  and 


FELLOWSHIP  9 

individually,  as  each  element  has  a  direct  bearing  on  the 
ultimate  desired  result;  namely,  to  decrease  accidents,  to 
improve  conditions  of  health  in  industry,  and  to  increase 
efficiency  through  educational  means.  Before  outlining 
a  suitable  educational  course  in  safety  and  health,  it  is  first 
necessary  to  study  and  systematize  the  accident  data  of 
any  particular  company.  These  data,  when  systematized, 
will  not  only  be  suggestive  in  laying  out  an  educational 
scheme,  but  will  also  be  useful  in  later  years  for  comparative 
purposes.  Educational  work,  to  be  received  properly,  to 
be  appreciated,  and  to  have  the  right  kind  of  cooperation 
given,  must  also  have  a  proper  spirit  of  fellowship  existing 
in  the  company.  While  educational  safety  work  may  do 
much  to  stimulate  fellowship  where  it  exists  in  a  moderate 
degree,  still  if  it  has  previously  been  stimulated  by  other 
methods,  it  will  help  greatly  in  obtaining  the  proper  re- 
sponse to  safety  work.  Having  established  an  educational 
course  in  safety  and  health,  the  work  should  be  carried  on 
systematically  as  part  of  the  company's  regular  educational 
work,  centralized  under  the  supervision  of  some  specific 
department,  such  as  the  Welfare,  Educational  or  Safety 
Department,  similar  to  the  practice  now  followed  in  indus- 
try with  apprentice  courses,  special  apprentice  courses,  and 
sales  training  courses.  In  other  words,  a  definite  schedule 
should  exist  and  be  adhered  to.  When  the  educational 
work  has  been  in  force  for  a  time  and  everyone  has  become 
interested  and  instructed  in  safety  first  methods,  if  it  is 
found  that  employees  are  habitually  careless,  for  their  own 
good  they  should  be  encouraged  to  seek  other  forms  of 
employment  less  hazardous.  Discipline,  however,  should 
not  be  exercised  until  all  other  means  have  failed ;  and  even 
then  with  due  allowance  for  unusual  conditions,  such  as 
the  newness  of  an  employee,  unfamiliarity  with  rules, 
regulations  and  operations,  troubles  at  home,  sickness, 
unusually  severe  weather  conditions,  and  other  unusual 
factors  which  might  be  responsible  for  lack  of  alertness. 
Usually  it  will  be  found  that  an  occasional  request  for 
greater  cooperation  in  safety  work  or  increased  caution, 


10 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


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FELLOWSHIP 


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ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


FELLOWSHIP 


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14  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

coming  from  the  management,  will  accomplish  the  desired 
result. 

In    many   large   corporations   we   find   the   element   of 
fellowship  highly  developed.     There  is  a  close  relationship 
in  the  idea  contained  in  the  words  "cooperation"   and 
"corporation."     One  is  defined  as  the  act  of  operating 
jointly  with  another  to  the  same  end.     Corporation   is 
defined  as  a  body  politic,  organized  to  operate  as  a  single 
person.     Andrew   Carnegie,   in   the   early   days   of   steel- 
making,  tied  a  broomstick  to  the  smokestack  of  the  rolling 
mill  that  had  the  greatest  monthly  output.     It  worked 
wonders   as   a   stimulus   to   human   endeavor.      Carnegie 
understood  human  nature — the  ability  of  people  to  work 
together,  to  pull  together  under  the  proper  stimulus  of 
fellowship  due  to  sympathetic  and  just  leadership.     The 
greatest  progress  in  safety  work  will  be  found  in  those 
places  where  systematic  educational  safety  work  is  carried 
on,  where  the  right  spirit  of  fellowship  exists,  and  where  the 
manager  and  the  workmen  at  the  bench  feel  that  they  are 
fellow-employees.     There   must   be   respect  for   superiors 
and  discipline,  but  at  the  same  time,  there  should  be  that 
friendly   confidence   or   mutuality   of  interests   based   on 
Kelvin's  law  of  economic  balance.     In  designing  a  trans- 
mission line,  the  most  economic  condition  is  that  in  which 
the  interest  on  the  capital  invested  is  equal  to  the  cost  of 
energy  dissipated.     This  is  known  as  Kelvin's  law.     It 
applies  to  human  endeavor  as  well  as  to  engineering.     The 
most  efficient  work  in  safety  and  health  is  that  in  which  the 
employer   and   employee   are   mutually   interested.     The 
manager,    through    the    resources    of    his    company    and 
through  his  position,  is  able  to  extend  to  the  employee 
many  perquisites  which  an  employee,  working  as  a  single 
individual,  could  not  benefit  by,  but  which  the  company 
can  extend  at  small  expense.     The  company's  facilities  for 
organization,  accounting,  purchasing,  publicity,  education, 
etc.,  can  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  employees  through  their 
Welfare  Department,  or  through  employees'  clubs,  to  help 
any  activity  which  may  be  started  for  the  benefit  of  the 


FELLOWSHIP 


National  Tube  Company,  Lorain  works,  subsidiary  of  United  States  Steel 

Corporation. 


Youngstown  Sheet  and  Tube  Company.  Sign  at  entrance  to  rod  and 
wire  plant — the  daily  safety  reminder.  This  sign  is  printed  also  in  foreign 
languages  spoken  in  the  plant,  and  is  changed  weekly. 


16 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


FELLOWSHIP 


17 


18  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

employee.  This  is  the  method  which  many  companies 
use  to  stimulate  fellowship.  All  of  these  activities,  how- 
ever, should  be  founded  on  sound  economic  principles;  and 
while  many  times  it  takes  time  to  get  the  activities  in  this 
condition,  they  never  become  permanent  activities  until 
this  stage  has  been  reached.  In  other  words,  it  does  not 
pay  to  throw  away  money  in  welfare  work  for  its  mere 
advertising  value — activities  should  be  self-supporting  when 
possible,  as  employees  resent  charity. 

System. — It  is  important,  as  previously  stated,  in  safety 
work,  that  a  definite  plan  should  be  followed  in  maintaining 
safety  educational  work.  In  starting  such  work  it  is  well 
to  secure  someone,  experienced  in  teaching,  who  can  devote 
a  reasonable  amount  of  time  to  this  work.  This  individual 
should  make  a  study  of  safety  devices,  first  aid  work,  all 
methods  of  resuscitation,  tuberculosis,  sanitary  conditions, 
and  should  be  able  to  systematize  and  classify  all  accidents 
which  occur,  with  their  causes.  From  this  data  it  will  be 
found  that  certain  large  groups  of  certain  classes  of  acci- 
dents exist,  differing  with  each  industry,  and  these  par- 
ticular groups  are  the  ones  upon  which  concentrated 
effort  should  first  be  made.  It  will  be  found  in  manu- 
facturing, for  instance,  that  eye  cases,  strains,  and  ruptures, 
foot  burns  in  the  foundry,  falls  and  other  injury  to  repair 
men,  or  men  engaged  in  construction  work,  form  the  most 
prevalent  sources  of  accidents. 

Education. — Assuming  that  a  suitable  instructor  has 
been  found  to  carry  on  the  educational  safety  work,  and 
that  this  instructor  has  studied  the  accident  conditions  at 
the  local  plant  and  has  become  familiar  with  the  safety 
literature  issued  by  the  National  Safety  Council,  the 
American  Museum  of  Safety,  the  Travelers'  Insurance 
Company,  the  Aetna  Insurance  Company,  and  many  of 
our  large  manufacturing  or  operating  companies,  such  as 
the  Norton  Grinding  Wheel  Company,  United  States  Steel 
Corporation,  Carnegie  Steel  Company,  General  Electric 
Company,  Commonwealth  Edison  Company  of  Chicago, 
Commonwealth  Steel  Company,  Westinghouse  Electric 


FELLOWSHIP  19 

&  Manufacturing  Company,  The  Great  Northern  Railroad, 
Santa  Fe  System,  Brooklyn  Rapid  Transit  Company,  and 
many  other  companies  that  could  be  mentioned  that  have 
made  splendid  progress  in  safety  educational  work,  ii-be- 
comes  the  duty  of  this  instructor  to  outline  some  definite 
course  to  follow.  It  is  suggested  that  this  course  be  not 
too  extensive,  a  series  of  lectures,  like  the  following,  being 
ample : 

1.  The   principal   types   of   accidents  occurring  in  the 
local  plant — their  causes  and  remedies. 

2.  First  aid  to  the  injured,  including  the  use  of  the  first 
aid  kit  and  the  making  of  tourniquets. 

3.  The  prone  pressure  method  of  resuscitation  with  dem- 
onstrations. 

4.  Tuberculosis. 

5.  Fire  hazards. 

6.  Methods  of  reporting  accidents  and  the  use  of  standard 
safety  devices. 

These  lectures  should  first  be  given  to  a  selected  group 
of  men,  consisting  of  foremen,  assistant  foremen,  and  gang 
bosses,  including  every  department  in  the  organization, 
with  the  exception,  possibly,  of  the  office  force.  Everyone 
should  be  given  an  opportunity  to  demonstrate,  and  the 
lectures  should  be  repeated  at  monthly  intervals  until  this 
entire  group  of  men  has  been  thoroughly  trained.  For  an 
organization  employing  5,000  people,  200  "  first  aid  minute 
men"  are  none  too  many.  These  lectures  should  be 
supplemented  by  a  works'  paper  published  at  monthly 
intervals,  going  to  all  the  employees  in  the  organization, 
distributed  free.  In  this  paper  the  material  which  is  pre- 
sented in  the  lectures,  should  be  worked  up  with  illustra- 
tions for  the  benefit  of  every  employee  in  the  organization. 
If  the  publication  is  well  illustrated,  and  contains  in  addi- 
tion to  safety  material,  matters  of  general  interest,  includ- 
ing personal  achievements,  historical  sketches,  useful  tables, 
it  will  be  found  that  great  interest  will  be  aroused  on  the 
part  of  the  employees,  in  safety  work.  This  paper  should 
be  edited  by  the  same  individual  that  gives  the  lectures, 


20 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


HE  TOOK  A  CHANCE! 


Training  foreigners  in  the  correct  use  of  goggles — Illinois  Steel  Company, 
subsidiary  of  United  States  Steel  Corporation. 


FELLOWSHIP  21 

so  that  the  general  educational  work  will  bear  a  direct  rela- 
tion to  the  specific  lectures  given.  In  distributing  this 
paper,  it  is  well  to  have  it  appear  on  a  definite  day_each 
month,  such  as  the  first  of  the  month,  the  circulation  taking 
place  at  certain  specific  centers.  Some  idea  of  the  interest 
which  may  be  aroused  in  such  a  paper  can  be  gained,  when 
it  is  stated  that  the  Pittsfield  works  has  distributed  5,000 
copies  of  such  a  sheet  each  month  for  the  past  three  years 
and  only  about  twenty  loose  copies  have  been  found  during 
this  time  about  the  streets  or  about  the  works  after  the 
distributions  have  been  made.  This  paper  is  distributed 
in  such  a  way  that  the  copies  are  taken  home  where  they 
are  read  by  the  other  members  of  the  family.  The  third 
phase  of  the  educational  work  which  is  also  important,  is  to 
include  the  public  in  the  safety  work  which  is  carried  on. 
This  can  readily  be  accomplished  by  giving  first  aid  lectures, 
throughout  the  school  system,  to  Boy  Scout  groups,  to  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  to  churches  and  wherever  an  opportunity 
occurs;  for  it  must  be  realized  that  if  we  can  get  the  teachers, 
the  pupils,  and  the  mothers  interested  in  safety  and  health 
work,  we  can  stimulate  habits  which  in  later  years,  will  be 
conducive  to  good  results.  Each  one  of  these  lectures  can 
be  made  the  occasion  of  writing  an  extended  article  on  the 
subject  which  will  appear  in  the  local  newspapers,  where  it 
can  be  read  by  the  employees  in  the  organization.  In  other 
words,  by  working  around  a  circle,  we  can  keep  changing 
fhe  point  of  contact  of  presenting  safety  material  to  our 
employees.  In  addition  to  the  educational  work  so  far 
outlined,  it  is  desirable  four  or  five  times  during  the  winter, 
to  hire  some  public  hall  and  give  general  lectures  on  safety 
to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  organization.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary in  these  lectures,  to  go  to  the  expense  of  having  indi- 
vidual demonstrations  made  the  same  as  with  the  "minute 
men, "  but  these  lectures  should  be  illustrated  with  moving 
pictures,  or  lantern  slides,  and  should  include  talks  by  the 
safety  engineers  and  some  of  the  management,  so  as  to 
arouse  a  proper  safety  spirit  among  the  employees.  The 


22  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

personal  touch  is  a  very  important  matter  in  successful 
safety  educational  work. 

Discipline. — Due  to  the  fact  that  labor  in  organization  is 
continually  changing,  it  becomes  necessary  to  repeat  safety 
educational  work  quite  frequently.  At  the  present  time, 
one  of  the  most  difficult  things  is  to  train,  in  a  short  interval, 
a  new  employee  in  the  same  habits  of  caution  that  have 


Men  in  testing  department  practicing  the  prone  pressure  method  of  resusci- 
tation— Pittsfield  Works,  General  Electric  Company. 

been  developed  in  an  older  employee  through  several  years 
of  contact.  In  fact,  this  constant  shifting  of  labor  is  the 
most  serious  factor  with  which  safety  engineers  have  to 
contend.  It  becomes  necessary,  therefore,  at  times,  with 
a  new  employee,  to  use  greater  pressure  to  get  him  in  line 
with  old  established  practices,  such,  for  instance,  as  the 
wearing  of  goggles.  Foremen  are  the  proper  centers  to 
work  through  in  administering  discipline  to  employees  who 


FELLOWSHIP 


23 


I 


24 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


FELLOWSHIP  25 

will  not  heed  safety  suggestions;  and  while  the  greatest 
patience  should  be  exercised  to  get  new  employees  in  line, 
there  are  times  when  all  sorts  of  persuasion  fail,  where  the 
men  are  habitually  careless,  and  where  rigid  disciplined 
the  only  remaining  hope. 


CHAPTER  II 

SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  WHICH  MAY  BE  REDUCED 
BY  EDUCATIONAL  MEANS 

General. — There  is  no  appeal  stronger  than  that  of 
u self-preservation. "  Following  this  thought  in  introduc- 
ing safety  educational  work,  it  is  well  as  a  means  of  arousing 
great  interest,  to  start  with  lectures  on  the  direct  saving 
of  life,  such  as  the  prone  pressure  method  of  resuscitation. 
This  may  be  followed  by  other  lectures  covering  the  use  of 
moulders'  shoes  in  the  foundry,  the  use  of  goggles,  fire 
hazards,  etc.  Lectures  on  safety  should  be  given  in  such  a 
way  as  to  arouse  the  interest  of  foremen  or  division  heads. 

Importance  of  Foremen  in  Accident  Prevention. — There 
is  an  increasing  tendency  in  safety  work  to  use  the  foremen 
as  centers  from  which  to  radiate  safety  ideas.  These  men 
should  be  brought  together  in  groups  and  given  actual 
instruction  in  first  aid  methods  and  in  accident  prevention 
work.  When  an  accident  does  occur  the  instructions  read 
that  the  foreman  is  to  be  notified  immediately;  and  he,  in 
turn,  sends  in  the  call  for  medical  assistance.  The  forms 
for  reporting  the  accident  are  subsequently  filled  out  by 
the  foreman  after  an  investigation  has  been  made.  The 
foreman  is  also  in  a  position  to  make  recommendations 
concerning  the  safety  of  his  department;  he  can  place  orders 
to  have  safety  devices  installed,  he  deals  directly  with  the 
emergency  hospital,  when  he  desires  to  have  any  case 
investigated,  or  in  case  it  is  necessary  to  administer  help. 
The  foreman,  in  other  words,  has  every  facility  and  every 
liberty  in  instituting  accident  prevention  work  and  in 
using  discipline  if  necessary  to  make  working  conditions 
safe.  There  is  every  reason,  therefore,  why  foremen 
should  feel  the  responsibility  for  such  accidents  as  occur 
in  their  departments.  They  do,  as  a  rule,  as  is  shown  by 

26 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  27 

the  pride  with  which  a  good  departmental  record  is  looked 
back  upon,  by  the  kindly  interest  in  the  injured  exercised 
when  anything  goes  wrong,  and  by  the  many  safety  sugges- 
tions that  originate  with  the  foremen  or  their  assistants. 
As  in  safety  work,  so  it  is  with  other  things;  if  we  center 
responsibility  in  the  foreman,  placing  every  facility  and 
suggestion  at  his  disposal,  we  accomplish  the  best  results. 

Prone  Pressure  Method  of  Resuscitation. — The  "  prone 
pressure  method" — sometimes  called  the  "Schaefer 
method"  from  Professor  E.  A.  Schaefer,  F.  R.  S.,  of  the 
university  of  Edinburgh,  who  first  introduced  it — is  the 
method  par  excellence  of  giving  artificial  respiration.  All 
practical  arguments  are  on  its  side  as  well  as  sound  ana- 
tomical principles.  It  is  easy  to  learn.  It  requires  no 
apparatus.  There  is  no  delay  in  waiting  until  an  emergency 
outfit  is  found.  One  person  can  do  it.  A  mere  boy  can 
resuscitate  an  overweight  adult.  A  greater  air  exchange- 
tidal  air— can  be  had  than  is  obtained  in  normal  voluntary 
breathing.  Unlike  the  Sylvester  method,  no  team  work  is 
required;  one  operator  can  work  for  an  indefinite  time. 
It  meets  the  complication  of  the  six  principal  types  of  sus- 
pended animation  admirably. 

In  electric  shock,  broadly  speaking,  the  blood  is  altered, 
veins  are  dilated  and  full  of  blood,  arteries  are  nearly 
empty,  heart  is  pulsating  feebly,  nervous  system  is  greatly 
damaged,  there  is  a  tremendous  rush  of  blood  to  the 
splanchnic  or  abdominal  vessels,  which  are  found  to  contain 
about  four  times  as  much  blood  as  normally.  The  prone 
pressure  method  forces  this  blood  back  to  the  anemic  brain 
and  to  the  heart.  The  regular  rhythmic  pressure — sixteen 
times  a  minute  or  as  we  breathe — on  the  floating  ribs,  forces 
the  large  organs — lower  stomach,  spleen,  kidneys,  and  large 
intestines  of  the  abdominal  cavity — up  against  the  dia- 
phragm— the  musculo-fibrous  partition  between  the  ab- 
dominal and  chest  cavities — forcing  it  up,  thus  decreasing 
the  size  of  the  pleural  cavity,  which  is  an  almost  perfect 
vacuum.  This  forces  the  air  out  of  the  lungs,  and  effec- 
tively massages  the  heart  and  tends  to  help  it  reestablish 


28  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


Showing  location  of  diaphragm. 


Pulling  down  the  diaphragm,  air  rushes  in  through  the  glass  tube  into 
windpipe  [and^expands^the  cat's  lungs  similar  to  what  takes  place  in 
prone  pressure  method. 


the 
the 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS 


29 


its  regular  beating.  When  the  hands  are  removed,  the 
resiliency  of  the  ribs  and  abdominal  organs  causes  them  to 
spring  back.  The  diaphragm  falls,  leaving  an  increased 
vacuum  space  in  chest,  and  air  naturally  rushes  in  under 
atmospheric  pressure  and  fills  the  lungs — the  lungs  are  pas- 
sive— thus  purifying  the  blood  of  its  excess  of  carbon 
dioxide  which  has  been  paralyzing  the  respiratory 
center. 

Other  cases  that  require  the  prompt  administration  of 
artificial  respiration  are:  asphyxiation  due  to  the  presence 
of  non-respirable  gases; 
suspension  of  breathing 
during  the  inhalations  of 
ether  or  chloroform;  over- 
doses of  laudanum  may 
produce  a  condition  re- 
quiring artificial  respira- 
tion among  other  re- 
storative measures ;  in 
cases  of  drowning,  the 
prone  pressure  method 
works  admirably — the 
patient  lies  on  his  ab- 
domen, head  turned  to 
one  side,  the  arms  are  ex- 
tended overhead,  the 

tongue  falls  forward  of  its  own  weight,  leaving  throat 
free,  every  time  pressure  is  made  upon  the  floating 
ribs,  water  and  mucus  are  expelled  from  the  lungs 
and  air  passages,  thus  increasing  the  prospects  of 
restoration;  in  shock  caused  by  a  blow  in  the  solar  plexus, 
artificial  respiration  is  required  until  the  disturbed  nerve 
centers  recover. 

All  cases  of  suspended  animation  are  alike  in  that  the 
diaphragm  is  inhibited.  It  ceases  to  rise  and  fall  as  it  does 
with  every  breath  of  normal  respiration,  because  the  brain 
has  ceased  to  send  messages  for  it  to  do  so.  By  prone  pres- 
sure this  end  is  actually  accomplished.  The  patient  is 


Location  of  floating  ribs. 


30 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


given  air  to  sustain  life  until  brain  and  respiratory  centers 
recover  their  functions. 

The  bell- jar  experiment  admirably  illustrates  the  action 
of  the  diaphragm  in  normal  breathing.  The  lungs  of  a  cat 
are  carefully  removed  along  with  at  least  two  inches  of 


Backward  position — prone  pressure  method — forward  position. 

trachea,  the  trachea  is  slipped  over  a  piece  of  glass  tubing 
and  tied,  tubing  is  carried  up  through  the  rubber  stopper 
of  the  bell  jar.  Over  the  bottom  of  the  jar,  a  piece  of  rub- 
ber dam  is  stretched  and  tied  so  as  to  be  air-tight.  When 
the  rubber  is  pulled  down,  the  air  pressure  in  the  jar  is 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  31 

reduced,  the  atmospheric  air  rushes  in  through  the  glass 
tube  and  trachea,  fully  distending  the  lungs.  In  the  pleu- 
ral  cavity  the  vacuum  is  more  perfect,  hence  air  would  flow 
in  more  readily. 

The  main  points  to  be  remembered  in  giving  artificial 
respiration  by  the  prone  pressure  method  are: 

1.  Quickly  to  lay  the  patient  on  the  stomach,  turn  face 
to  one  side,  so  that  mouth  and  nose  do  not  touch  the  ground. 
Extend  arms  above  the  head,   and  quickly  remove  any 
foreign  body  from  the  mouth. 

2.  The  operator  kneels,  straddling  the  patient's  hips,  or 
kneels  by  either  side  of  hips,  facing  patient's  head. 

3.  The  operator  places  the  heels  of  the  hands  on  the  ends 
of  the  floating  ribs — small  of  the  back — the  arms  are  held 
straight,   and  weight  is  brought  from  the  shoulders  by 
bringing  the  body  and  shoulders  forward. 

The  weight  is  gradually  increased  until  it  is  felt  to  be 
heavy  enough  to  compress  the  parts — from  two  to  three 
seconds  being  required;  then  the  operator  suddenly  re- 
moves pressure  by  swinging  backward,  thus  allowing  ribs 
and  other  organs  to  spring  back  into  place.  A  complete 
respiration  is  accomplished  in  about  five  seconds,  or  the 
operator  can  be  guided  by  his  own  breathing.  A  folded 
blanket  or  coat  placed  under  the  abdomen,  beneath  the 
floating  ribs,  facilitates  the  expiration  pressure.  The 
second  person  should  attend  to  the  clearing  of  the 
mouth,  seeing  that  the  tongue  is  forward  and  clothing 
loosened. 

There  is  no  case  on  record  of  damage  having  been  done 
internal  organs  by  the  prone  pressure  method.  On  the 
contrary,  eminent  authorities  claim  that  the  movable 
organs  above  and  below  the  diaphragm  are  loosened  up, 
giving  freedom  of  motion  to  the  diaphragm.  This  means 
increasing  the  lung  capacity,  which  in  turn  gives  tone  and 
vigor  to  the  entire  system,  thus  improving  the  health. 

This  method  is  pretty  generally  used  as  a  means  of  resus- 
citation by  large  factories.  It  has  been  made  a  part  of 


32  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

several  gymnastic  courses  and  is  used  by  the  United  States 
Army  as  a  part  of  the  " setting  up"  exercises.1 

The  secret  of  the  method  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  opera- 
tion of  breathing  is  a  reverse  process  to  what  we  ordinarily 
believe.  When  we  take  a  long  breath,  filling  our  lungs, 
we  think  we  are  drawing  the  air  in  ourselves,  but  what  we 
are  really  doing  is  to  tense  the  arch-shaped  muscle,  shown 
in  the  figure,  known  as  the  diaphragm,  under  the  heart, 
pressing  it  down,  allowing  nature,  under  an  atmospheric 
pressure  of  fifteen  pounds  to  the  square  inch,  to  fill  the 
lungs  with  air.  In  expiration,  the  diaphragm  is  relaxed, 
taking  its  normal  arch-shape  position,  pushed  up  by  the 
intestines,  liver  and  stomach,  forcing  the  air  out  of  the 
lungs,  pulling  down  the  ribs  and  decreasing  the  air  cavity 
at  the  same  time.  If  we  place,  therefore,  anyone  flat  on 
his  stomach  and  press  in  on  the  small  of  the  back  on  the 
extreme  ends  of  the  floating  ribs,  over  the  kidneys,  we  can 
easily  force  up  the  diaphragm  and  expel  the  air  from  the 
body,  causing  artificial  expiration.  By  stretching  the 
arms  of  the  patient  over  his  head,  as  in  the  illustration,  we 
increase  the  cavity  of  the  lungs,  enabling  the  patient  to 
take  in  more  air  than  normally.  Turning  the  head  to  one 
side  allows  the  second  individual,  who  appears  on  the  scene, 
to  draw  the  tongue  forward  and  remove  any  material 
which  may  be  in  the  mouth,  such  as  chewing  gum,  tobacco, 
false  teeth,  etc.,  so  as  to  keep  the  throat  from  being  stopped 
up.  If  we  relax  the  pressure  on  the  floating  ribs,  nature 
fills  the  lungs  of  the  patient  with  air;  exerting  pressure 
again,  we  expel  the  air.  In  placing  the  hands  in  posi- 
tion, we  should  press  down  with  the  palm  of  the  hand- 
not  the  fingers — arms  stiff.  The  hands  should  not  be 
taken  from  the  surface  of  the  body,  but  simply  resting  on 
the  knees,  as  in  the  illustration,  swing  the  body  forward 
and  backward,  exerting  pressure  with  the  hands.  In  the 
forward  position,  count  three  and  then  swing  backward. 
The  motion  should  be  rhythmic,  corresponding  to  the  indi- 
vidual breathing,  about  sixteen  times  a  minute.  When  the 

1  From  article  by  M.  D.  DIBBLE  in  Current  News,  Pittsfield  works. 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS 


33 


Patient  falls. 


Patient  turned  over. 


Arms  over  head. 


Head  to  one  side. 


Straddle  patient. 


Forward  position. 


Patient  resuscitated. 


34  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

patient  starts  to  revive,  he  may  have  a  convulsion.  If  the 
patient  is  seen  trying  to  take  a  breath,  relax  a  second — do 
not  push  in  the  opposite  direction — help  nature.  A  folded 
blanket,  slid  under  the  stomach  by  the  second  man  on  the 
scene,  at  one  of  the  backward  strokes  of  the  operator,  helps 
the  method.  The  principal  point  to  remember  is  not  to 
lose  any  time  when  the  accident  happens,  but  begin 
instantly — save  the  seconds. 

Procedure. — In  the  case  of  electrical  shock,  requiring 
artificial  respiration,  catch  hold  of  the  person's  clothing— 
not  the  hands — and  pull  him  free.  If  on  a  ladder,  have 
some  one  ready  to  catch  the  injured,  before  opening  the 
switch,  so  as  not  to  break  his  neck.  Move  quickly.  Turn 
the  patient  over  on  his  face,  turn  head  to  one  side,  stretch 
arms  over  head,  straddle  the  patient  far  enough  down  so 
you  can  sit  on  his  thighs.  Place  the  hands  on  each  side  of 
the  small  of  the  back  on  the  ends  of  the  floating  ribs;  do 
not  press  on  the  hip  bones  or  the  center  backbone.  Be  sure 
your  hands  are  over  the  tips  of  the  floating  ribs,  then  start 
swinging  your  body  backward  and  forward,  not  too  fast, 
keeping  the  arms  stiff,  swinging  just  as  rapidly  as  you 
breathe  yourself.  Our  experience  shows  that  it  requires 
about  seven  minutes  to  resuscitate  the  average  patient;  but 
the  method  should  be  continued  for  two  hours,  before 
giving  the  patient  up  as  hopeless. 

Prone  Pressure  Method  of  Resuscitation  as  Used  at 
Pittsfield  Works. — In  order  to  reduce  to  a  minimum  cases 
of  electrical  shock,  a  series  of  meetings  are  held,  during 
which  the  prone  pressure  method  of  resuscitation,  as 
standardized  by  the  National  Electric  Light  Association, 
is  taught.  The  nurse  in  charge  of  the  emergency  hospital 
at  Pittsfield  illustrates  the  talk  with  lantern  slides,  giving 
the  theory  of  the  prone  pressure  method.  This  is  followed 
by  a  demonstration  of  the  method  itself.  Every  three 
months,  a  talk  is  given  to  the  new  college  men  on  test, 
besides  giving  them  a  copy  of  the  rules.  In  this  way,  every 
new  college  man  who  enters  the  test  is  made  thoroughly 
familiar  with  this  method.  The  foremen  and  assistant 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  35 

foremen  throughout  the  plant  are  gotten  together  in  groups 
and  are  likewise  instructed  in  the  prone  pressure  method. 
From  time  to  time  articles  describing  the  method  have 
been  printed  in  a  works'  paper. 

Five-hundred-and-fifty-volt,  two-phase  current  is  used 
for  the  operation  of  all  machine  tools  at  Pittsfield.  If  we 
compute  the  voltage  across  the  outside  phases  and  its  maxi- 
mum value,  we  find  this  to  be  equivalent  to  about  1,093 
volts,  and  in  destructive  action  this  is  equivalent  to  about 
1,500  volts  direct  current.  By  calling  this  fact  to  the 
attention  of  the  crane  operators,  foremen,  mechanics,  car- 
penters, and  electricians,  this  source  of  danger  has  been 
reduced  to  a  minimum.  Calling  the  danger  to  the  atten- 
tion of  employees  and  showing  them  how  to  resuscitate  an 
individual  who  has  been  shocked  seems  to  emphasize  the 
presence  of  the  danger,  and  keeps  the  men  from  getting 
shocked.  In  other  words,  the  number  of  cases  of  electrical 
shock  which  have  occurred  during  the  past  year  has  been 
reduced  considerably,  and  during  this  period  there  have 
been  five  cases  where  the  men,  receiving  voltages  up  to 
15,000  volts,  were  unconscious  and  were  resuscitated  by 
the  prone  pressure  method  by  their  fellow-employees.  One 
of  the  most  interesting  cases  was  that  of  a  crane  man  in 
the  foundry,  who  was  resuscitated  by  a  foundry  foreman, 
who,  previous  to  the  shop  instructions,  had  been  unfamiliar 
with  the  method.  At  the  present  time  there  is  hardly  a 
shop  or  an  office  in  which  there  are  not  at  least  three  or  four 
men  familiar  with  this  method.  It  is  hoped,  in  time,  to 
have  every  man  in  the  organization  trained  in  the  prone 
pressure  method  of  resuscitation,  for  it  must  be  remembered 
that  this  wonderful,  simple,  and  effective  method  is  good  not 
only  in  cases  of  electrical  shock,  but  also  in  cases  of  gas 
asphyxiation,  drowning,  and  fainting;  in  fact,  in  all  cases 
of  unconsciousness.  In  one  case  it  was  used  by  an  em- 
ployee to  resuscitate  a  man  who  was  unconscious  from  the 
effects  of  a  fit. 

An  important  feature  of  the  prone  pressure  method  is 
that  once  an  individual  has  seen  a  demonstration  and  has 


36  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

not  had  occasion  to  practice  it,  when  the  critical  situation 
develops  he  seems  instinctively  to  know  just  how  to  go 
about  doing  it.  The  men  are  made  to  feel  that  the  main 
thing  to  do  with  this  method  is  to  free  the  individual,  in 
case  of  electrical  shock,  from  sources  of  power  and  then  to 
begin  the  method,  eliminating  as  far  as  possible  all  lost 
time.  Where  the  prone  pressure  demonstration  is  given 
to  the  employees  in  the  foundry,  a  number  of  them  do  not 
understand  the  English  language.  It  is  necessary,  there- 
fore, to  demonstrate  the  method  by  means  of  lantern  slides 
and  by  means  of  the  bell-jar  experiment  showing  the  action 
of  a  cat's  lungs.  When  the  demonstration  has  been  com- 
pleted, one  of  the  foundry  employees,  who  speaks  several 
languages,  addresses  the  men  in  their  own  languages.  We 
find  as  a  result  of  these  meetings  that  the  men  are  intensely 
interested.  To  create  additional  interest,  photographs  are 
taken  of  the  meetings  and  posted  where  the  men  can  see 
them. 

The  use  of  resuscitation  apparatus  has  been  discouraged, 
owing  to  the  complications  of  choice  of  method,  the  time 
necessary  to  bring  the  apparatus  to  the  injured  person,  and 
the  possibility  of  having  the  apparatus  used  by  an  inexpe- 
rienced person.  The  great  factor  in  resuscitation  cases  is 
to  "save  the  seconds"  and,  therefore,  if  every  one  can  be 
trained  in  the  same  system,  such  as  the  prone  pressure 
method,  and  taught  to  lose  no  time  in  using  it,  it  is  believed 
that  the  greatest  efficiency  will  be  reached.  The  experi- 
ence at  the  Pittsfield  works  has  taught  that  this  is  a  wise 
course  and  by  following  it,  six  cases  have  been  saved  since 
its  general  introduction.  A  situation  may  develop  in  the 
future  where  it  will  be  necessary  to  modify  this  practice 
and  supplement  it  by  resuscitation  apparatus;  but  until 
a  situation  develops  the  present  arrangement  will  be 
followed.  Should  occasion  arise  where  it  is  necessary  to 
use  resuscitation  methods  on  a  female,  instructions  have 
been  given  the  foremen  to  slit  up  the  back  of  the  waist,  and 
the  corset  strings  of  the  injured,  and  apply  the  method 
directly.  In  addition  to  this,  individual  instruction  has 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  37 

been  given  a  number  of  girls  so  that  they  will  not  lose  any 
time  themselves  when  emergency  arises. 

NOTE. — Danger  of  550-volt  Two-phase  Motor  Circuits. — We  call  SL 
550- volt  railway  circuit  dangerous.  When  near  a  third  rail  or  a  fallen 
trolley  wire  we  exercise,  from  habit,  the  greatest  care  in  avoiding  contact. 
Suppose  the  danger  was  equivalent  to  1,500  volts,  would  we  exercise 
greater  care?  It  is  needless  to  ask.  The  purpose  of  these  remarks 
is  to  show  why  a  550- volt  two-phase  motor  circuit  should  be  considered 
as  equivalent  in  danger  to  a  1,500-volt  direct-current  circuit. 

An  alternating  current  is  denned  as  one  which  has  the  same  heating 
effect  as  a  direct  current  of  the  same  numerical  value.  Thus  100  amperes 
alternating  current  as  indicated  by  an  ammeter  has  the  same  heating 
value  as  100  amperes  of  direct  current.  An  alternating  current  is 
continually  changing  in  magnitude  with  each  instant  of  time,  flowing 
through  a  wire,  first  in  one  direction  from  zero  to  maximum  value  to 
zero  again,  and  then  in  the  opposite  direction  through  the  wire  from 
zero  to  maximum  to  zero  again.  The  equivalent  heating  value  of  this 
current,  or  the  value  we  ordinarily  specify,  is  called  the  effective  value 
to  differentiate  it  from  other  values.  This  effective  value  is  smaller 
than  the  maximum  value  of  the  current  by  a  certain  fixed  amount  for 
ordinary  circuits,  the  maximum  value  being  the  square  root  of  2  or 
1.41  times  the  effective  value.  In  other  words,  an  alternating  current 
of  100  effective  amperes,  as  recorded  on  an  ammeter,  has  a  maximum 
value  of  141  amperes,  the  current  rising  to  this  value  for  an  instant  with 
each  reversal. 

This  method  of  reasoning  also  applies  to  the  voltage  of  an  alternating 
circuit.  A  circuit  of  550  volts,  effective  rising  in  value  for  an  instant 
to  550  X  1.41  or  775.5  volts.  Leaving  aside  for  the  moment  the  ques- 
tion of  increased  destructive  action  due  to  the  pulsating  effect,  any  one 
coming  into  contact  with  one  phase  of  a  550-volt  alternating  circuit 
would  receive  a  shock  equivalent  to  the  maximum  value  of  775  volts. 
But  these  circuits  are  not  single-phase,  they  are  two-phase,  two  of  the 
four  wires  being  joined  together  to  form  a  two-phase  three- wire 
circuit. 

What  do  we  mean  by  a  two-phase  550-volt  circuit?  In  this  two- 
phase  system  we  have  two  distinct  circuits  to  consider,  each  of  550 
volts.  We  could  add  these  two  voltages  together  and  say  we  had  1,100 
volts  if  we  were  considering  a  direct-current  circuit;  but  not  so  with  a 
two-phase  circuit,  as  these  voltages  are  not  the  same  in  magnitude  at 
the  same  instant  of  time.  When  the  voltage  of  one  circuit  is  at  its 
maximum  value,  the  voltage  of  the  other  circuit  is  at  its  zero  value  and 
vice  versa.  A  convenient  way  of  representing  the  relation  of  these  two 
voltages  under  discussion  is  by  means  of  two  short  arrows  of  equal  length 
placed  like  the  hands  of  a  clock;  only  we  must  consider  them  as  rotating 


38 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


in  a  counter-clockwise   direction — opposite   to   that   of   an    ordinary 
clock. 

Thus  A  and  B  in  the  diagram  can  be  considered  to  represent  a  two- 
phase  circuit,  A  and  B  being  two  effective  voltages  equal  in  magnitude, 
550  volts  in  this  case.  If  these  were  direct-current  voltages,  we  would 
draw  the  hands  together,  superimposing  them,  in  which  position  we 
could  add  them  directly.  When  they  are  in  the  position  indicated  in 
the  figure,  it  means  that  at  the  instant  one  is  at  a  maximum  the  other 
is  zero  or  90°  out  of  phase  with  it — one-fourth  of  a  cycle  apart. 


Max. 


Rotation 


Two  Phase 


4  Wire 


3  Wire 


Voltage  relationships. 


This  is  made  clearer  perhaps  in  the  third  figure,  where  the  instan- 
taneous values  of  these  two  voltages  are  shown;  one  complete  convolu- 
tion from  A  to  A  being  equivalent  to  360°.  If  we  wish  to  add  the 
voltages  in  A  and  B  together  as  in  the  second  figure,  to  determine  what 
voltage  a  man  would  receive  who  got  across  the  outside  phases  of  a 
two-phase,  550-volt  circuit,  we  complete  the  parallelogram  as  in  the 
fourth  figure,  where  the  length  of  line  C  is  equivalent  to  the  vector  sums 
of  these  two  voltages.  What  is  the  length  of  this  line?  Those  who  have 
studied  geometry  will  know  that  if  we  call  A  and  B  each  equal  to  1 
that  C  will  be  equal  to  the  square  root  of  2  or  1.41,  the  same  factor 
which  entered  the  discussion  at  the  beginning,  when  we  were  showing 
the  relation  between  the  effective  and  maximum  values.  So  the 
equivalent  or  vector  sum  of  these  two  voltages  would  be  775.5  volts 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  39 

which  would  be  recorded  on  a  voltmeter  if  connected  across  the  two 
outside  wires  in  a  two-phase,  three-wire,  550-volt  circuit,  as  in  the 
fifth  figure. 

This  value  is  the  effective  voltage;  and  to  get  the  maximum  value 
we  must  multiply  again  by  1.41  or  775.5  X  1.41  =  1,093  volts.  Any- 
one, therefore,  coming  in  contact  with  the  two  outside  phases  of  such 
a  motor  circuit  would  receive  a  shock  of  1,093  maximum  volts.  As 
this  pressure  is  pulsating,  striking  the  individual  about  120  times  a 
second,  it  would  be  equivalent  in  destructive  action  to  a  constant  voltage 
of  about  1,500.  This  last  figure  is  only  approximate,  but  it  is  a  fair 
guess  and  shows  why  wiremen,  plumbers,  carpenters,  mechanics,  etc., 
working  about  machines  or  circuits  carrying  this  voltage  should  be 
extremely  careful.  When  the  voltage  of  the  wires  is  not  indicated, 
work  should  not  be  commenced  until  the  desired  information  has  been 
secured  from  the  foreman  or  from  the  electrical  department.  If  this 
practice  is  followed,  it  may  avoid  serious  accidents.  Wiremen  working 
on  circuits  of  this  value  should  wear  rubber  gloves,  should  use  tools 
which  are  insulated,  should  handle  the  circuits  only  one  hand  at  a  time, 
should  be  familiar  with  the  prone  pressure  method  of  resuscitation, 
should  be  familiar  with  the  company's  rules  regarding  the  work  of  this 
character,  and  should  never  work  alone. 


RESUSCITATION  RECOMMENDATIONS,  TECHNICAL 
PAPER  77  BUREAU  OF  MINES 

The  recommendations  of  the  committee  are  summarized 
as  follows: 

"In  all  cases  of  suspended  or  inadequate  respiration,  as  in  very  slow 
breathing,  the  method  of  artificial  respiration  which  can  be  most  quickly 
applied  should  be  used  at  once.  In  most  cases,  where  good  air  is  present, 
manual  methods  of  artificial  respiration  are  most  immediately  useful. 
Of  these,  the  modified  prone  pressure  method,  already  described,  is 
best.  If  there  is  on  the  victim  a  local  wound  that  the  prone  pressure 
method  may  seriously  increase,  the  Sylvester  method,  in  which  other 
parts  of  the  body  are  moved,  may  be  substituted. 

"In  cases  of  poisoning,  oxygen  should  be  given  instead  of  air.  If  the 
victim  is  breathing  at  approximately  the  normal  rate,  oxygen  may  be 
given  very  simply  by  fastening  to  the  face  of  the  victim  a  mask  sup- 
plied with  straps  to  hold  it  in  place,  fitted  with  an  outlet  valve  opening 
to  the  air,  and  also  fitted  with  a  tube  having  an  outlet  valve  and  con- 
nected with  a  breathing  bag.  Such  masks  are  on  the  market.  The 
breathing  bag  is  kept  provided  with  oxygen  from  a  cylinder.  If  the 
victim  is  breathing  slowly  or  irregularly,  or  has  ceased  breathing,  he 


40  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

should  be  given  the  oxygen,  in  the  absence  of  other  means,  by  a  manual 
method  of  artificial  respiration,  preferably  the  prone  pressure  method. 
"Of  mechanical  devices  for  artificial  respiration,  the  committee  has 
examined  the  pulmotor  and  the  Dr.  Brat  apparatus  and  disapproves 
of  them,  because  repeated  suction  of  air  from  the  lungs,  is  not  physio- 
logical, and  if  continued  is  likely  to  result  in  injury  to  the  lungs  and 
inadequate  inflation;  and  it  disapproves  of  the  pulmotor  also  because 
the  automatic  mechanism  is  so  readily  disturbed  as  to  be  a  frail  de- 
pendence at  critical  moments." 

(Signed)        W.  B.  CANNON, 
GEO.  W.  CHILE, 
JOSEPH  ERLANGER, 
YANDELL  HENDERSON, 
S.  J.  MELTZER. 

RULES    FOR   WlREMEN — PlTTSFIELD    WORKS 

1.  GENERAL. — Men  engaged  in  the  handling  of  electrical  circuits  are 
sometimes  exposed  to  hazardous  conditions  and  it  is  necessary  that 
they  cultivate  the  habit  of  being  very  cautious. 

The  following  rules  cover  some  of  the  duties  and  precautions  to  be 
observed  by  wiremen  and  electricians.  If  any  of  the  rules  are  not  clear 
or  for  any  reason  it  appears  necessary  to  violate  any  of  these  rules, 
consult  the  Superintendent  of  the  Electrical  Department. 

2.  SUGGESTIONS. — Suggestions,  alterations,  or  additions,  which  will 
make  these  rules  more  complete  and  useful  are  solicited. 

3.  READ  THE  RULES. — These  rules  must  be  read  by  men  entering 
upon  the  electrical  work  and  should  be  reviewed  occasionally  by  those 
who  are  regularly  employed  in  the  electrical  department.     Men  must 
become  familiar  with  the  conditions  surrounding  the  work  in  which 
they  are  engaged. 

4.  RESPONSIBILITY. — No  responsibility  should  be  placed  on  a  man 
until  he  has  confidence  and  knowledge  to  do  the  work. 

5.  SAFETY  DEVICES. — Too  much  confidence  must  not  be  placed  in 
safety  devices  which  are  furnished  to  make  the  work  less  hazardous. 

Take  every  precaution  to  see  that  the  body  is  well  protected  before 
any  service  is  required  of  a  safety  device.  Remember  that  it  is  possible 
for  any  safety  device  to  get  out  of  order  and  become  inoperative. 

6.  RUBBER  GLOVES. — Rubber  gloves  are  furnished  for  the  use  of  those 
who  require  them  on  hazardous  jobs.     They  must  not  be  relied  upon 
to  furnish  absolute  protection.     Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  rubber 
gloves  clean  and  free  from  grease  and  other  solvents  of  rubber. 

7.  TAPPING  LIVE  CIRCUITS. — No  repairs,  alterations  or  examinations 
requiring  handling  of  live  wires  should  be  made  except  in  case  of  urgent 
need  and  then  only,  under  the  personal  supervision  of  a  foreman. 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  41 

8.  GROUNDING. — The  frames  of  all  motors,  switchboxes,  transformers, 
etc.,  must  be  substantially  grounded. 

9.  GROUNDS. — Assume  that  all  circuits  are  grounded  and  properly 
insulate  your  body  against  all  wires. 

10.  DANGEROUS  VOLTAGE. — All  voltages  are  dangerous  for  wiremen. 
If  the  voltage  is  not  great  enough  to  produce  a  fatal  shock  the  sign  should 
give  its  value. 

11.  DANGER  SIGNS. — Danger  signs  should  be  placed  at  all  points 
where  one  may  accidentally  come  into  contact  with  live  wires.     Signs 
should  be  removed  when  the  danger  has  passed. 

12.  Two  MEN. — Whenever  it  is  necessary  to  make  a  tap  in  a  live 
wire  or  work  in  the  vicinity  of  live  parts,  two  men  must  always  be 
employed. 

13.  TAGGING  FEEDER  SWITCHES. — When  a  circuit  is  opened  for  the 
purpose  of  making  changes,  the  controlling  switch  should  be  tagged  and 
blocked,  and  the  tag  signed  by  the  man  who  opened  the  switch.     The 
switch  should  be  closed  only  by  the  man  who  signed  the  tag. 

If  the  switch  has  been  ordered  open  by  two  men  they  should  both 
sign  the  tag  and  the  switch  should  be  closed  by  the  station  attendant 
only  when  positively  notified  by  the  two  persons  whose  names  are  on 
the  tag.  Besides  opening  the  switch,  the  disconnecting  switches  or 
cutouts  should  be  opened  as  an  additional  safeguard  against  having 
the  circuit  closed  unexpectedly. 

14.  SHORT-CIRCUITING  LINES. — Where  the  circuit  on  which  work  is 
to  be  done  has  been  opened,  short-circuit  the  wires  before  proceeding 
with  the  work  and  keep  them  short-circuited  until  the  work  has  been 
completed.     Don't  forget  to  remove  the  short-circuit  when  the  work 
has  been  finished. 

15.  DEAD  CIRCUITS. — Dead  circuits  should  be  treated  as  if  they 
were  alive.     This  develops  a  cautious  nature  and  may  sometimes  prevent 
an  accident  caused  by  another  person's  error. 

16.  ONE  HAND. — As  far  as  possible  use  only  one  hand  when  working 
about  electrical  circuits  and  switches. 

17.  ROLLING  UP  SLEEVES. — Do  not  work  on  circuits  with  sleeves 
rolled  up. 

18.  TOOLS. — Do  not  use  tools   or  ladders   that   are  imperfect  or 
defective.     Report  such  matters  to  the  foreman. 

19.  RUBBER  MATS. — See  that  you  are  properly  insulated  from  ground 
by  a  rubber  mat,  insulated  stool,  or  other  insulating  material  when 
operating  switches,  or  working  on  circuits. 

20.  FUSES  AND  CUTOUTS. — Pull  and  place  fuses  with  insulated  fuse 
pullers.     Pull  the  live  end  of  the  fuse  out  first.     When  placing  fuses 
put  live  end  in  last. 

Do  not  leave  fuses  uncovered.  Pull  and  place  fuses  very  carefully 
to  avoid  short-circuits  or  grounds. 


42  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

21.  FUSING  CIRCUITS. — Motors  should  be  fused  for  not  more  than 
three  times  the  motor  capacity: 

Lighting  circuits  for  not  more  than  twice  the  capacity  of  the  circuit. 

22.  EXTENDED    SHAFT. — If    a    shaft    extends   beyond   the    bearing 
housing,  it  should  be  protected  by  a  proper  covering. 

23.  RUBBER  SHIELD. — A  shield  may  be  used  as  a  protective  device 
for  men  working  on  poles.     The  shield  covers  the  wires  with  which  the 
wireman  may  come  into  contact  while  work  is  being  done  on  a  selected 
wire. 

24.  SAFETY  BELTS. — Safety  belts  should  always  be  worn  by  men 
working  on  overhead  lines. 

25.  CAUTION.— DON'T  TAKE  CHANCES  WHEN  HANDLING 
ELECTRICAL  CIRCUITS.     BE  SURE  YOU  ARE  RIGHT  BEFORE 
YOU  PROCEED  WITH  YOUR  WORK. 

26.  PROTECTION  FOR  EYES. — Heavy  blue  or  black  glasses  should  be 
worn  when  it  is  necessary  to  look  at  an  electric  arc. 

To  prevent  dirt  entering  the  eyes  when  chiseling  holes  in  concrete, 
stone  or  brick  for  the  support  of  wiring  devices,  protecting  glasses  should 
be  worn. 

27.  DAMP  PLACES. — To  avoid  possible  shock  due  to  grounding,  when 
work  is  being  done  in  damp  places,  extra  precautions  should  be  taken 
to  insulate  the  body. 

28.  LIVE  CIRCUITS. — Do  not  work  on  live  circuits  until  you  have 
received  instructions  from  the  superintendent  or  foreman  in  charge. 

Make  the  circuits  dead  whenever  possible  before  work  is  begun. 

29.  LAMP  CIRCUITS. — When  working  on  lamp  circuits  be  sure  that 
you  are  well  insulated  from  the  ground  and  the  lamp  circuit  is  open. 

30.  CLOSING  SWITCHES. — Do  not  close  a  switch  without  full  knowl- 
edge of  the  circuit.     Do  not  close  switch  in  a  hesitating  manner,  but 
close  it  in  a  positive  manner  using  sufficient  force  to  make  full  contact 
of  blades. 

31.  IDENTIFY  SWITCHES. — As  far  as  possible,  all  wires,  cables  and 
switches  should  be  tagged  or  lettered  so  that  they  may  be  readily 
identified. 

32.  TAMPERING. — Employees  not  connected  with  the  electrical  de- 
partment must  not  tamper  with  any  electrical  circuit. 

33.  TOOL  HANDLES. — The  handles  of  tools  should  be  covered  with 
rubber  tape  to  prevent  slipping  and  reduce  the  opportunity  for  short 
circuits  across  them.     Such  taping  should  not  be  relied  upon  for  safety 
to  workmen. 

34.  MANHOLES. — If  a  cover  is  removed  from  a  manhole,  see  that  the 
opening  is  properly  guarded.     If  the  work  is  being  done  in  a  manhole, 
there  should  be  a  man  on  guard  at  the  top  of  the  manhole. 

35.  RESUSCITATION. — Learn  the  " prone  pressure"  method  for  re- 
suscitation from  an  electrical  shock. 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  43 

36.  NEAT  WIRING. — All  wiring  must  be  done  in  a  neat  and  work- 
manlike manner  and  in  accordance  with  Underwriter's  Rules.     Wires 
carelessly  installed  are  dangerous  and  often  are  the  cause  of  short- 
circuits. 

37.  SWITCHES.— Switches  should  be  left  WIDE  OPEN  when  in  the 
open  position  and  FULLY  CLOSED  when  in  the  closed  position. 

38.  DEFECTIVE  APPARATUS. — Report  to  your  foreman  all  electrical 
apparatus  which  is  any  way  defective  or  inoperative. 

39.  INSULATION. — Do    not  trust    the    insulation    on    a   wire    for 
protection  from  a  shock. 

40.  DOUBT. — If  you  are  in  doubt  about  the  proper  performance 
of  any  work  which  you  are  told  to  do,  say  so.     DON'T  TAKE  A 
CHANCE. 

41.  JOINTS. — Connections  between  cables  must  be  well  made.     Wires 
must  be  bound  and  soldered  and  the  joint  carefully  insulated.     When 
wires  are  held  in  contact  by  means  of  screws,  be  sure  that  the  screws 
are  set  down  tight.     A  slight  movement  of  the  wire  or  cable  while  setting 
down  a  screw  will  tend  to  make  the  joint  tight. 

42.  LOOSE  ENDS. — Do  not  cut  the  ends  of  wires  and  leave  them 
exposed.     If  the  wires  cannot  be  removed,  see  that  the  ends  are  well 
insulated. 

43.  TAPPING  INSULATED  WIRES. — When  tapping  live  insulated  wires, 
remove  insulation  from  only  one  wire  at  a  time.     Do  not  expose  another 
wire  until  one  tap  is  made  and  joint  is  insulated. 

44.  A  great  many  employees  injured  about  electrical  apparatus  are 
not  connected  with  that  work.     They  are  injured  through  ignorance 
of  the  danger  or  because  effective  safeguards  are  not  provided.     It  is, 
therefore,  within  the  province  of  the  employees  of  the  electrical  depart- 
ment to  warn  all  persons,  such  as  plumbers,  carpenters,  machinists, 
etc.,  who  are  working  near  the  electrical  conductors  of  the  danger  to 
which  they  are  exposed. 

I  have  read  these  rules  and  received  a  copy  of  them. 

Signed 

Goggles. — There  is  probably  no  safety  device  that  pays 
for  itself  with  a  higher  rate  of  interest  than  that  of  the 
safety  goggle.  These  goggles  are  purchased  by  a  company 
and  supplied  free  to  any  employee  who  feels  that  he  is  in 
need  of  them.  They  are  usually  used  where  there  is  a 
possibility  of  flying  particles,  such  as  metal  chips,  molten 
metal,  sawdust,  emery,  etc.,  entering  a  workman's  eye. 
Where  possible,  the  use  of  these  goggles  should  be  compul- 
sory. In  the  foundry  at  Pittsfield  there  was  formerly  a 


44  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


These  goggles  are  furnished  free  by  the  Company  to  those  requiring  them. 
Before  giving  out  a  pair  of  goggles  which  has  been  used  before,  they  will  be 
sterilized  at  the  Emergency  Hospital — Pittsfield  Works. 


Progress  in  reduction  of  eye  cases  by  the  use  of  goggles — American  Iron 
and  Steel  Industry. 


Protecting  eyes,hair  and  clothes— Pittsfield  Works,  General  Electric  Company. 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS 


45 


very  large  percentage  of  eye  cases,  but  since  the  introduction 
of  these  goggles,  eye  accidents  have  been  reduced  to  a  very 
low  point.  At  the  present  time,  at  least  one  eye  a  month  is 
saved  from  serious  injury  in  this  foundry  by  the  use  of  these 
goggles. 


Helmet  worn  by  arc  welders  to  protect  the  eyes  and  face  from  ultra-violet 
light — Pittsfield  Works,  General  Electric  Company. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  cases  was  that  of  a  foundry 
employee  who  refused  to  wear  goggles  and  was  discharged. 
On  coming  back  later  he  was  reengaged,  conditionally,  upon 
his  wearing  goggles.  In  about  one  week's  time  he  came 
to  his  foreman  with  both  glasses  completely  smashed.  Both 
eyes  had  been  saved.  Now  he  is  a  most  urgent  booster 


46 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


for  the  use  of  the  safety  goggles.  Where  acetylene  torches 
are  used,  colored  goggles  are  used  by  the  men  so  that 
their  eyesight  will  not  be  injured  by  ultra-violet  light. 
In  a  number  of  cases  employees  have  taken  to  wearing 
goggles  on  their  own  initiative  after  reading  published 
literature  in  a  works'  paper,  or  after  hearing  some  safety 
talk. 


Complete  protection. 

Burned  Feet  in  the  Foundry. — To  reduce  foot  burns  in 
the  foundry,  the  moulder's  shoe,  which  has  been  so  success- 
fully used  by  many  of  our  American  foundries,  should 
be  introduced.  From  the  illustration  it  will  be  noticed 
that  this  shoe  is  nothing  more  than  the  old-fashioned  con- 
gress shoe.  They  are  arranged  so  that  when  metal  falls 
upon  the  shoe,  it  will  quickly  glide  off.  In  case  metal  should 
get  in  the  top  of  the  shoe,  the  shoe  can  be  quickly  kicked 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS 


47 


off.  These  shoes  have  some  asbestos  in  the  sole,  although 
their  principal  advantage  consists  in  the  points  previously 
mentioned.  They  are  ordinarily  sold  of  a  good  quality 
for  $2.00,  although  the  cheaper  qualities  have  beerrsold 
for  as  low  as  $1.50.  These  shoes  may  be  distributed 
through  a  local  shoe  dealer  rather  than  by  a  company,  the 
dealer  giving  the  employees  the  benefit  of  his  discount. 


Your  Eyes 


Are  your  most  valuable  asset. 

The  above  eye  was  saved  by  the  goggles. 

During  the  month  of  May  33 /^  per  cent  of 
all  major  accidents  were  eye  cases  beside 
89  minor  cases. 

Protect  your  eyes  from  flying  chips  and  em- 
ery dust. 

Ask  your  foreman  for  a  pair  of  goggles  and 

Save  Your  Eyes 


Poster  for  eyes. 

selling  them  for  a  lower  price,  such  as  $1.80.  Prior  to  the 
use  of  the  moulder's  shoe  at  Pittfield,  moulders  have  come 
into  the  hospital  wearing  laced  shoes  with  pieces  of  metal 
the  size  of  a  dollar  burned  into  their  feet,  the  metal  having 
caught  in  the  laces.  Asbestos  leggings  may  also  be  used  in 
addition  Jo  the  moulder's  shoes  to  reduce  foot  burns.  A 
further  factor  which  contributes  toward  the  reduction  of 


48  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

accidents  is  the  use  of  a  small  ladle  for  carrying  metal. 
Where  a  ninety-pound  ladle  is  used,  there  is  a  tendency  to 
spill  the  metal,  which  explodes  as  soon  as  it  strikes  the 
ground.  By  using  a  smaller  ladle,  less  metal  is  spilt. 

Last  November,  one  of  our  deputies,  who  is  a  practical  foundry  man, 
visited  one  of  the  largest  foundries  in  the  State.  "  The  general  manager 
asked  him  if  he  could  assist  him  in  securing  100  moulders.  He  said, 
'I  am  in  great  need  of  moulders.  Right  now,  I  have  30  men  off  with 
burned  feet.'  The  deputy  asked  him,  'Why  don't  you  stop  the  burns?' 
and  then  explained  to  him  how  a  number  of  large  companies  had 
adopted  the  plan  of  purchasing  moulder's  congress  shoes  and  selling 
them  to  the  men  at  cost.  This  plan  enables  the  foremen  of  the  foundry 
to  enforce  the  rule  regarding  the  wearing  of  congress  shoes.  The 
manager  said  he  would  try  the  plan  and  ordered  a  large  quantity  of 
shoes. 

"The  deputy  visited  the  plant  a  few  days  ago,  and  the  manager 
stated  that  the  plan  of  selling  shoes  had  worked  out  very  successfully. 
All  of  the  foundry  men  had  purchased  shoes,  also  a  large  percentage  of 
the  other  shop  men.  Since  the  adoption  of  the  plan  the  manager  stated 
that  the  burns  in  the  foundry  had  been  reduced  85  per  cent."1 

Nails. — All  safety  men  look  forward  to  the  time  when  the 
use  of  nails  in  industry  will  be  minimized.  Nails,  due  to 
their  peculiar  structure  and  size,  form  a  very  prevalent 
source  of  accidents.  A  few  years  ago,  accidents  from  nails 
in  the  Shipping  Department  of  one  of  our  large  factories  at 
Pittsfield,  were  unusually  numerous;  but,  due  to  the  excel- 
lent cooperation  given  by  the  various  members  of  the  Pro- 
duction Department  and  the  Shipping  Department,  acci- 
dents from  this  cause  in  these  particular  departments  have 
been  greatly  reduced.  In  1914,  accidents  from  nails,  in 
the  Shipping  Department,  were  reduced  50  per  cent,  over 
the  previous  year;  and  in  1915  a  further  reduction  of  50 
per  cent,  has  occurred.  In  1914  there  were  twenty- three 
accidents  from  nail  punctures  for  the  entire  plant,  involving 
loss  of  time  of  approximately  five  hours.  In  1915,  nine 
similar  accidents  occurred.  This  shows  the  relative  prog- 
ress made. 

Up-turned  Nails. — If  everyone  who  passes  a  piece  of 
loose  board  containing  up-turned  nails,  as  shown  in  the 

1  National  Safety  Council. 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  49 


Defective  Shoes 

"Accidents  Don't  Just  Happen,  Each  One  Has 
Its  Cause" 


"Eternal  Vigilance  Is  the  Price  of  Safety" 

This  picture  illustrates  a  very  serious  burn  of  the  toes 
of  the  left  foot  (loss  of  time  60  days).  You  will  note  that  the 
only  place  where  the  shoe  is  burned  is  at  the  little  toe.  Had 
this  been  a  good,  strong  shoe  this  injury  would  have  been  slight, 
but  owing  to  its  broken  condition  the  iron  poured  through  the 
break  all  across  the  top  of  the  foot,  seriously  burning  all  the 
toes.  Being  a  button  shoe  the  employe  could  not  remove  it  as 
quickly  as  he  could  have  done  had  he  worn  CONGRESS  SHOES 

(Coartwy  Intonations.)  Havener  Co.) 


Poster  for  shoes. 


50 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


figure  will  simply  use  his  heel  to  press  down  the  nails,  it  will 
remove  this  source  of  danger  from  later  passers-by. 

Band  Iron  Corners. — One  of  the  ways  in  which  progress 
in  reduction  of  nail  accidents  in  the  Pittsfield  Shipping 
Department  has  been  made,  is  due  to  the  development  of 


Moulder's  shoes. 


Using  a  skimmer  to  protect  hands  when  pouring  metal. 

the  "band  iron  corners,"  shown  on  page  54.  Formerly, 
strip  metal  was  used  to  wrap  about  the  edges  of  transformer 
boxes  to  hold  the  corners  together.  Through  the  initiative 
of  Mr.  G.  T.  O'Brien,  a  special  band  iron  corner  for  boxes 
was  developed.  This  corner  brace  is  simply  constructed,  as 
shown  in  the  illustration;  it  consists  of  two  short  strips  with 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  51 

holes  punched  at  the  proper  places  for  nails.  In  fastening 
this  corner  to  the  box,  they  have  eliminated  the  tendency 
of  nails  to  fly  as  they  formerly  did  when  struck  by  the 
hammer,  the  nail  point  sliding  on  the  smooth  surface~oT 
the  band  iron.  One  serious  accident  occurred  in  the  past 
in  which  a  nail  shot  off  in  this  manner  and  pierced  the 


Incorrect  and  correct  way  of  using  flask.     Notice  block  in  right  illustration. 

eyeball  of  an  employee.  Fortunately,  the  case  was 
promptly  sent  to  the  Emergency  Hospital  and  taken  care 
of,  so  that  the  sight  of  the  eye  was  not  lost.  Since  the 
use  of  band  iron  corners  has  been  introduced,  cuts  from  up- 
turned loose  ends  of  the  strip  metal  formerly  used  have  been 
materially  reduced  in  this  particular  place. 

Hammers. — Another  source  of  danger  from  flying  nails 
is  due  to  the  smooth  face  of  the  ordinary  hammer.  To 
minimize  this  source  of  danger,  hammers  with  serrated 
heads  may  be  used.  These  are  not  entirely  satisfactory, 
as  the  heads  of  such  hammers  are  too  highly  tempered. 
Small  steel  chips  tend  to  fly.  Regular  hammers  may  be 


52  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

cut  on  a  milling  machine  as  shown  in  the  illustration.  With 
the  crisscross  surface,  the  hammer  gets  a  better  purchase 
on  the  nails  and  keeps  them  from  flying,  besides  which 
the  lower  tempering  keeps  parts  of  the  hammer  from  flying. 

Keep  Floors  Clear  of  Nails. — An  important  feature  in 
the  reduction  of  nail  accidents  is  to  keep  the  floors  free 
from  loose  nails.  Floors  should  be  swept  up  frequently, 
to  keep  the  floors  absolutely  free  from  nails.  Otherwise 
nails  will  be  run  over  by  trucks  handling  freight,  and  will 
be  shot  out  from  under  the  wheels. 

Treatment  of  Nail  Punctures. — A  wound  from  nail  punc- 
ture is  usually  deep,  and  when  the  wound  occurs  some  of 
the  surface  infection  of  the  skin,  which  is  always  present, 
is  carried  into  the  wound.  It  is  not  so  much  what  is  on 
the  nail  at  the  time  as  what  is  on  the  surface  of  the  skin. 
Such  a  wound  should  have  a  little  tincture  of  iodine  painted 
on  its  surface.  It  should  then  have  a  boracic  acid  com- 
press (a  small  pad  of  gauze  moistened  with  boracic  acid) 
placed  over  the  wound ;  it  should  then  be  bandaged.  Every 
two  hours  moisten  the  compress.  Inside  of  a  couple  of 
days  the  wound  will  be  completely  healed  from  the  bottom 
out  and  danger  from  blood  poisoning  will  be  eliminated. 

Don't  Neglect  Nail  Punctures. — Some  people  feel  that 
their  blood  is  in  such  good  condition  that  nature  will  look 
after  them  and  that  they,  therefore,  can  neglect  nail  wounds. 
Nature  sometimes  gets  tired  looking  after  people,  especially 
when  the  person  is  tired  himself  and  his  vitality  is  low, 
with  the  result  that  serious  trouble  from  blood  poisoning 
follows  from  neglected  nail  wounds. 

Ruptures. — This  matter  is  discussed  under  "Medical 
Inspection  of  Employees,"  where  is  given  the  educational 
literature  which  may  be  used  to  show  men  how  to  lift,  and 
to  instruct  employees  in  the  nature  of  ruptures.  These  data 
may  be  used  in  lectures  as  well  as  in  works'  papers. 

Punch  Press  Accidents. — Accidents  from  punch  presses 
are  usually  serious,  the  employee's  hand  or  fingers  being 
usually  completely  crushed  due  to  the  power  behind  the 
press.  Employees  placing  material  between  the  jaws  of  a 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  53 

press  may  do  so  thousands  of  times  without  being  caught 
and  then  some  day  the  foot  may  slip  and  trip  the  press,  the 
clutch  may  fail  to  catch  or  the  press  may  repeat,  resulting 
in  the  loss  of  part  of  a  hand  before  he  is  conscious  of  what 
has  occurred.  Many  guards  have  been  developed  to  elimi- 


Stepping  on  nail. 


Removing  danger  with  heel. 

nate  punch  press  accidents,  and  many  other  devices  to  keep 
employees  from  placing  their  fingers  under  the  presses. 
The  difficulty  with  all  of  these  devices  comes  from  their 
interfering  slightly  with  production,  the  employee  taking 
a  chance,  when  his  foreman  is  not  near,  to  discard  the 
device.  The  most  successful  way  in  the  writer's  knowledge 


54 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


of  meeting  this  condition  is  first  to  equip  all  presses  with 
non-repeat  attachments,  for  many  of  the  most  serious 
punch  press  accidents  encountered  by  the  writer  have  come 


Special  hammers  and  corner  braces. 


Treatment  of  nail  punctures. 


Neatly  arranged  stock — Shipping  Department,  Pittsfield  Works. 

from  the  presses  repeating.  In  addition  to  the  non-repeat 
attachments,  if  employees  are  supplied  with  duck-bill 
pliers  to  place  the  material  between  the  jaws  of  the  press, 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS 


55 


56  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

and  the  use  of  these  pliers  as  insisted  upon,  it  will  be  found 
that  accidents  from  this  source  will  be  reduced  extensively. 
A  recent  suggestion  has  come  to  the  writer  of  having  a  small 
spring  placed  between  the  handles  of  the  pliers  to  open 
them  automatically.  The  illustration  shown  in  the  figure 
of  a  pair  of  pliers  is  of  interest.  This  pair  of  pliers  was 
used  by  a  man  who  was  forced  to  use  them;  the  press 
repeated,  bending  the  ends  of  the  pliers  as  indicated.  The 
man's  fingers  were  saved  against  his  own  will. 

Flying  Objects;  Mushroom  Heads  on  Tools,  Falls  from 
Ladders  and  Scaffolding. — It  is  important  that  all  tools 
used  by  employees,  such  as  cold  chisels,  should  occasionally 
have  their  heads  ground.  If  this  is  not  done  small  chips 
from  the  ends  of  the  tools  will  fly  off,  which  may  pierce  a 
workman's  eye.  This  has  happened  many  times.  Some 
companies  overcome  this  danger  by  having  periodic  inspec- 
tion of  tools,  all  tools  with  mushroom  heads  being  ground 
before  being  redistributed  to  the  tool  rooms  for  further 
distribution  to  employees. 

It  will  be  noted  from  the  compilation  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion, prepared  by  the  Industrial  Commission  of  Wisconsin, 
that  injuries  from  falling  objects,  flying  parts  of  tools,  chips, 
and  nails,  are  prevalent,  and  the  only  manner  in  which 
accidents  may  be  avoided  is  through  constant  inspection 
and  education. 

Crane  Accidents. — Training  crane  operators  to  avoid 
accidents  is  an  important  part  of  safety  supervision.  When 
we  consider  in  a  large  manufacturing  plant  the  enormous 
amount  of  material  which  must  necessarily  be  handled  by 
cranes,  the  many  lifts  required,  the  reliance  that  must  be 
placed  upon  proper  hitching  of  cables,  upon  the  brakes, 
upon  the  tensile  strength  of  cables,  upon  safety  limit 
switches,  upon  the  use  of  proper  signals,  etc.,  we  see  how 
very  important  it  is  to  have  a  well-organized  system  of 
supervision  of  crane  safety.  Regarding  crane  signals,  the 
operator  in  the  cage  of  the  crane  should  be  primarily 
responsible  for  crane  safety.  He  should  inspect  the  operat- 
ing mechanism  of  the  crane  as  soon  as  he  enters  the  carriage 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  57 

for  duty.  He  should  see  that  all  switches,  brakes,  etc., 
operate  properly.  He  should  see  that  no  loose  tools  or 
other  loose  material  are  on  the  running  boards  of  the  crane, 
and  he  should  have  a  definite  understanding  with  the-crane 
hitchers  regarding  the  giving  of  signals.  If  any  repairs  are 
being  made  in  which  repair  men  are  in  danger  of  accident 
from  a  crane,  a  rope  should  be  stretched  across  the  two 
tracks  and  a  danger  sign  suspended  at  its  middle  point, 
so  that  the  operator,  who  naturally  looks  down  from  his 
cage,  will  see  the  sign  as  he  approaches  the  danger  point. 
Should  the  crane  wheels  strike  the  rope  it  will  cut  the  rope 


Pliers  caught  in  punch  press.     The  use  of  these  saves  many  fingers. 

allowing  it  to  fall.  Some  companies  use  crane  stops  on  the 
tracks.  These  are  dangerous  as  they  are  likely  to  throw 
the  crane  wheels  from  the  tracks.  Torpedoes  have  been 
placed  on  the  tracks  and  used  with  success  in  some  places. 
Where  repairs  are  being  made  on  the  crane  itself,  a  sign 
"man  above"  is  usually  placed  on  the  floor  below  the  crane, 
so  that  if  tools  fall,  they  will  not  endanger  workmen  below. 
Every  crane  should  be  provided  with  a  limit  switch  to  pre- 
vent the  block  from  being  run  into  the  drum.  Many  forms 
of  limit  switch  have  been  developed  in  the  past  and  have 
failed  in  operation.  Some  of  the  failures  were  due  to 
devices  not  being  properly  constructed  mechanically;  other 
failures,  and,  in  fact,  the  more  serious  ones,  have  been  due 


58  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


Dangerous  Tools 


The  "burrs"  on  the  heads  of  these  sledges 
are  very  dangerous.  They  are  apt  to  "fly-off" 
and  cut  open  an  eye. 

Tools  should  be  regularly  inspected  and 
repaired.  This  means  "Safety  First". 

(National  Safety  Council) 

Poster  for  burred  tools. 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  59 

to  the  carelessness  of  operators  in  moving  their  blocks  be- 
yond the  danger  zone.  As  an  illustration  of  fatal  careless- 
ness, an  operator,  having  to  lift  material  over  a  particularly 
high  obstruction,  sometimes  raises  the  load  until  tlie~block 
strikes  the  safety  stop,  and  opens  the  switch  on  the  top 
of  the  crane.  He  then  goes  on  top  of  the  crane,  closes  the 
switch,  raises  his  load  still  higher  until  it  clears  the  obstruc- 
tion, moves  his  load  to  its  destination  and  lowers  it  to  the 
floor.  The  writer  knows  of  several  serious  accidents,  some 
fatal,  which  have  resulted  from  this  practice.  The  operator 
would  forget  that  he  was  operating  in  the  danger  zone, 
run  the  hook  into  the  safety  stop  and  drum,  break  the 
cables  and  drop  the  load.  To  eliminate  this  danger,  two 
forms  of  limit  switch  were  developed  at  the  Pittsfield  works. 
The  figure  shown  in  the  illustration,  employing  a  cable 
with  a  magnetic  blowout  switch,  is  the  latest  development, 
and  is  now  being  manufactured  by  the  General  Electric 
Company.  Both  of  the  latest  Pittsfield  safety  stops  are 
foolproof,  as  they  employ  a  rigid  rod  between  the  safety 
stop  and  the  switch,  making  it  impossible  for  an  operator 
to  go  beyond  the  danger  zone.  The  form  employing  the 
cable  is  preferable  to  the  rigid  foot  as  it  takes  care  of  a 
swinging  load.  Since  these  particular  forms  of  limit 
switch  have  been  used,  we  have  not  had  an  accident  from 
this  cause.  The  matter  of  making  crane  hitches  is  also 
important  and  worthy  of  careful  study  to  see  that  strains 
are  properly  distributed.  An  excellent  article  by  Mr.  J.  Rid- 
dell  of  the  Schenectady  works  of  the  General  Electric  Com- 
pany appeared  in  the  General  Electric  Review,  March  issue, 
1913.  The  reader  is  referred  to  this  article  where  many  of 
the  important  forms  of  hitches  and  knots  are  most  beauti- 
fully illustrated  and  described.  One  point  in  passing- 
care  should  be  taken  when  handling  tall  slender  objects,  to 
learn  how  to  make  short  hitches  which  will  not  necessitate 
operating  the  block  too  near  the  limit  switch.  The  follow- 
ing brief  concise  crane  rules  should  be  printed  on  a  card 
and  hung  in  the  cage  of  the  crane.  Crane  operators  should 
learn  the  rules  and  if  the  rules  are  not  followed,  operators 


60 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


Rope  slings  like  these  should  never  be  used,  says  J.  P.  Eaton,  Chairman 
Safety  Committee,  Schenectady  Works.  Think  of  the  safety  of  those  who 
work  under  the  traveling  cranes,  and  use  nothing  but  sound  hew  rope. 
Refer  to  safe  loads  for  manila  rope  for  diameters  given  in  the  following  table: 


In. 

Lb. 

In. 

Lb. 

In. 

Lb. 

In. 

Lb. 

In. 

Lb. 

K 

55 

M 

400 

IX 

1100 

1% 

2200 

2% 

5000 

KG 

100 

% 

500 

WG 

1200 

IK 

2700 

2M 

5550 

H 

125 

y8 

600 

IK 

1380 

1% 

3000 

2% 

6200 

KG 

160 

15/16 

740 

We 

1570 

2 

3500 

m 

6870 

K 

220 

1 

880 

iX 

1770 

2Ys 

4000 

2% 

7500 

%6 

300 

1K« 

1030 

iK 

2000 

2M 

4500 

3 

8000 

Table  by  Swift  &  Co. 


Defective  ropes. 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS 


61 


INDUSTRIAL  COMMISSION  OF   WISCONSIN 

CAUSES    OF    7908    ACC1BINTS 

SEPTEMBER  1  f3n  TO  NOVEMBER  1 1»1i 


«LT», 

eotms  MACHINES 

CHAWS  »SF*8£ "CITS 

co»fviT0*s 

GAUMDERS 

CORN  HUSKEiS  1  SM*E 0BEBS 


SHERT  WHEELS 

FKEO  AENSILUSt  CUTTERS 

SEARS 

JOINTERS 
LATHES__ 
MILLIKS  MACHIMES  . 
MOTORS  I  ENGINES 
PtAHERS 
POWEK  HAMMERS 
POWER  SHEARS 
PRESSES 
PULLEYS 
RtVETERS 


SET  SCREWS .. 
SHAFTING, 

SMAPERt 

STAYING  t  ENDWG  MACHINES 

STICKERS 

UNHAIRWG  MACHINES 

VENEER  CLIPPERS 

(ELEVATORS. 

HOISTS.  CRANES  t  DERRICKS 

MISCELLANEOUS  MACHINES 

OTHER  ACCIDENTS 
•Ofl.ER  EXPLOSIONS 
OTHER  EXPLOSIONS 
ESCAPING  STEAM 
EtECTRICITY  __ 

HOTMETAL$.._ 

OTHER  HOT  SUBSTANCES  *  AC»S 

HIT  BY  NAILS  *  CHIPS 

••  -•  HOISTED*  MOVED 08 JtCTS 

•*    -  OBJECTS  FALLING  FROM  PILES 

"  ••  TOWCLES.CARS  »  TRUCKS  . 

-  -  FALLING  TREES    . 

••  "  MACHWE  PARTS 

••  ••  OTHEA  OBJECTS 

FALLS  DOWN  STAIRS 
"    FROM  LADDERS 
••    SCAFFOLDS 
••"  BUILDINGS 
••   WAGONS  >  CARS 
••    PTLES.POLES  ETC. 
••    WTO  EXCAVATIONS 

••     VATS 
••      MWN  SHAFTS. 

"*    MISCELLANEOUS — - 

LIPPIW  *  STUMBLING 

ANDLIM  HEAVY  OBJECTS 

OTHER  OBJECTS        -    -. 

DROPPMt  HANDLED  OBJECTS . 

'RUCKING  t  HAUL1NC ^      .-,. 

ANIMALS-  BITES. KICKS  ETC. 

TOOLS.HAND  APPARATUS 
MISCELLANEOUS  CAUSES    . 


. 


J     I...     ...... 


= 


Report  of  Industrial  Commission  of  Wisconsin. 


62 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


OPERATION  AND  CARE  OF  CRANES 


(1)  It  shall  be  the  'duty  of  the  crane  operator  to 
keep  his  crane  clean,  oiled,  and  in  proper  operating 
condition   and   have   grease   cups   turned   down   or 
refilled  once  each  day. 

(2)  He  shall  examine  his  crane  every  morning  to 
ascertain  if  all  gears,  brake  wheels  and  keys  are  in 
their  proper  places. 

(3)  Cranes  are  to  be  cleaned  once  each  week  and  the 
foreman  in  charge  shall  allow  the  operator  a  reason- 
able length  of  time  to  do  this  work. 

(4)  The  operator  shall  keep  solenoid  brakes,  fingers 
and  segments  in  controllers  properly  adjusted. 

(5)  The  operator  shall  be  responsible  for  the  load 
from  the  time  it  has  been  raised  to  carrying  position 
until  he  receives  signal  from  the  hitcher  to  lower. 

(6)  The  operator  shall  carefully  watch  the  position 
of  the  hoisting  hook  and  exercise  extreme  care  when 
it  is  near  the  limit  switch  rod  to  avoid  running  the 
hook  on  the  drum. 

(7)  The  limit  switch  is  a  safety  device  installed  to 
operate  under  emergency  conditions  only  and  does 
not  relieve  the  operator  from  the  responsibility  of 
accidents  resulting  from  carrying  the  hoisting  hook 
too  high. 

(8)  The  limit  switch  shall  not  be  made  inoperative 
to  attain  a  greater  lifting  height. 

(9)  Do  not  move  load  without  signal  from  proper 
man.    Be  sure  to  recognize  signal  from  one  man  only. 

(10)  The  operator  shall  see  that  the  load  is  kept 
behind  the  hitcher  and  high  enough  to  clear  anything 
on  the  floor,  but  not  unnecessarily  high. 

(11)  The  operator  shall,  as  far  as  possible,  avoid 
carrying  the  load  over  the  heads  of  persons  on  the 
floor. 

(12)  Do  not  permit  your  crane  to  bump  into  another 
crane  until  you  are  positive  that  no  one  on  the  other 
crane  is  in  a  position  to  be  injured. 

(13)  When  handling  heavy  loads,  particularly  hot 
metal,   test  hoist  brake  by  throwing  controller  to 
"Off"  position  after  load  has  been  lifted  a  few  inches; 
if  brake  does  not  hold,  do  not  move  crane  until  it 
has  been  repaired  or  adjusted. 


(14)  The  operator  shall  never  reverse  any  of  the 
motors  before  coming  to  a  full  stop  except  to  avoid 
accident  or  injury  to  a  person  or  property. 

(15)  Do  not  open  the  main  switch  until  all  con- 
trollers are  in  the  off  position. 

(16)  Never  leave  the  crane  cage. without  opening 
the  main  switch. 

(17)  Never  go  nor  allow  anyone  else  to  go  on  top  of 
crane  without  opening  the  main  switch  and  placing  a 
warning  sign  on  the  switch  bearing  your  name. 

(18)  When  main  switch  is  found  open,  do  not  close 
it  until  you  are  absolutely  sure  that  no  one  is  on  the 
crane  or  the  crane  runway.    Examine  both  carefully. 

(19)  When  crane  is  down  for  repairs,  assist  repair 
man.     After  completion  of  repairs,  make  sure  that 
bolts,  tools,  etc.,  have  been  removed  so  that  no  dam- 
age to  machinery  will  result  when  crane  is  started 
and  so  that  nothing  will  fall  from  the  crane. 

(20)  When  men  are  making  repairs  on  cranes,  be 
sure  that  a  danger  sign  "Workmen  Above"  is  placed 
under  the  crane  on  the  floor. 

(21)  When  repairs  are  being  made  on  the  crane 
runways  or  where  there  is  a  possibility  of  striking  an 
individual,  see  that  a  danger  sign  is  placed  within 
breaking  distance  of  individual,  also  have  a  man  ride 
on  end  of  crane  with  you. 

(22)  Crane  should  always  be  left  at  the  ladder  when 
operator  is  through  his  shift. 

(23)  Crane  operators  should  not  run  down  ladders 
quickly 

(24)  If  any  of  these  rules  are  not  perfectly  clear, 
and  if  any  trouble  occurs  in  the  crane  which  you  are 
unable  to  remedy,  confer  promptly  with  the  crane 
inspection  department. 

(25)  Two  copies  of  these  rules  are  to  be  signed  by  the 
craneman,  one  for  file  in  the  Superintendent's  office, 
the  other  to  be  kept  by  the  craneman. 

(26)  I  have  read  these  rules  and  received  a  copy  of 
them  and  agree  to  follow  them. 


(Signed) 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  63 

should  be  transferred  to  other  positions,  as  crane  operators 
must  rank  100  per  cent,  in  safety  work. 

Many  companies  are  giving  up  the  use  of  chains  in  hitch- 
ing because  of  the  difficulty  of^properly  inspecting  the  links 
of  the  chain.  Where  cold-rolled  links  are  used,  the  links 
are  weak  where  the  bend  occurs.  I  Cables  are,  therefore, 
preferable  as  they  are  more Amif orm,  indicate  weaknesses 
more  quickly,  and  may  readily  be  tested.  Regarding  the 
use  of  audible  signals,  we  have  found  the  use  of  whistles, 


Foolproof  safety  stop  for  cranes  in  use — Pittsfield  Works,  General  Electric 

t  i  Company.  ; 

gongs,  etc.,  are  not  reliable,  as  men  get  accustomed  to 
hearing  them.  In  some  places  large  rotary  gongs  have 
been  used  successfully.  We  make  the  hitcher,  where  possi- 
ble, always  precede  his  load  and  give  the  signals.  He  can 
warn  people  to  keep  from  under  the  moving  load.  Where 
possible  cranes  using  magnets  for  lifting  purposes,  should 
be  avoided  for  interior  work,  as  an  insulating  film  is  liable 
to  form  on  part  of  the  surface  of  the  magnet ;  and  material 
sliding  over  the  surface  of  the^magnet,  due  to  gravity, 
meets  the  insulating  film  and  the  material  falls.  Remember, 


64  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

that  a  very  small  air  gap  introduced  between  the  magnet 
and  load  in  this  manner  will  weaken  the  magnetic  strength 
to  such  a  point  that  it  cannot  hold  the  load.  Cranes  should 
also  not  be  used  to  drag  loads.  In  some  foundries  objects 
are  drawn  over  the  sand  floors  in  order  to  smooth  up  the 
floor.  This  is  not  advisable,  as  it  gives  a  side  strain  on  the 
crane  which  it  is  not  designed  to  resist. 

Dangers  in  Use  of  Wood  Alcohol. — In  the  pattern  shops  of 
some  companies  the  practice  has  become  common  of  using 
wood  alcohol  to  mix  shellac,  the  impression  existing  that 
the  shellac  so  dissolved  dries  more  quickly.  Wood  alcohol 
is  particularly  dangerous  to  handle.  When  it  enters  cuts 
or  cracks  in  the  hands,  poisoning  results.  When  taken 
internally,  and  some  men  will  drink  anything  with  an 
alcohol  label  on  it,  it  causes  permanent  blindness.  Many 
cases  are  on  record  of  blindness  resulting  from  drinking 
wood  alcohol.  In  the  brewing  industry  particularly,  men 
have  to  enter  the  interior  of  hogsheads  and  paint  them  with 
shellac;  and  many  instances  can  be  mentioned  where 
blindness  has  resulted  from  the  fumes  given  off  by  the 
shellac  made  with  wood  alcohol.  The  writer  was  particu- 
larly interested  in  a  large  industry  where  wood  alcohol  was 
used.  Without  saying  anything  to  the  employees,  de- 
natured alcohol  was  substituted  gradually  for  the  wood 
alcohol.  There  was  not  one  operation  in  which  the  men 
could  detect  the  change.  As  a  result  of  investigations, 
wood  alcohol  was  completely  eliminated  from  the  works, 
denatured  alcohol  introduced,  a  serious  source  of  danger 
avoided,  and  incidentally,  a  saving  of  $2,500  a  year  was 
effected  by  the  change. 

Infection  from  Use  of  Gasoline. — There  are  many  manu- 
facturing industries  where  varnishes  and  enamels  of  various 
kinds  are  used  for  dipping  finished  materials.  In  some 
cases  the  varnishes  are  used  for  insulation  purposes,  as  in 
electrical  apparatus;  in  other  places  it  is  used  for  giving  an 
artistic  finish.  Employees  have  acquired  the  habit  of  using 
gasoline  to  wash  the  varnish  from  their  hands.  The  hands 
have  become  poisoned  from  the  use  of  the  varnish  and  it 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  65 

has  been  difficult  to  locate  the  cause,  for,  on  analysis,  the 
varnish  contained  no  ingredients  which  appeared  to  be 
poisonous.  An  investigation  of  this  matter  by  the  writer 
showed  that  what  actually  happened  was,  that  the  frequent 
use  of  gasoline  cracked  the  surface  of  the  employees'  hands, 
infection  of  various  kinds  entered  the  cuts  and  inflamma- 
tion resulted.  By  placing  a  tub  of  soapy  water  so  em- 
ployees could  rinse  the  gasoline  from  their  hands  after 
washing  the  varnish  therefrom,  this  source  of  infection  has 
been  completely  eliminated.  Teach  the  employees  to  use 
soap  and  water  habitually  after  removing  the  varnish  with 
gasoline,  and  no  infection  will  result.  Where  gasoline  is 
used,  its  dangerous  characteristics  should  be  fully  under- 
stood and  all  manner  of  sparks  from  matches,  paper,  or 
static  discharge  should  be  carefully  avoided.  When  pour- 
ing gasoline,  see  that  metal  parts  of  container  and  receiving 
objects  are  in  contact.  As  high  as  500  volts — static — may 
be  developed  by  the  running  gasoline,  if  the  objects  are  not 
in  contact.  Many  garage  fires  have  been  started  in  this 
manner. 

Fire  Prevention. — There  is  probably  no  form  of  accident 
prevention  which  has  been  developed  to  a  greater  extent 
or  over  a  longer  period  in  this  country  than  the  prevention 
of  accidents  due  to  fires.  In  fact,  the  matter  has  been 
gone  into  so  thoroughly  that  the  record  for  freedom  from 
loss  of  life  is  almost  100  per  cent.  The  larger  operating 
companies  usually  start  by  building  fireproof  structures  of 
concrete,  brick  and  steel  with  metal  partitions,  wide  halls, 
large  window  space,  and  ample  exits.  These  buildings 
are  then  equipped  with  automatic  sprinkler  systems,  care 
being  taken  to  see  that  frequent  inspections  are  made  by 
a  regularly  organized  fire  department  to  see  that  pressure 
is  always  maintained.  At  a  recent  interview  which  the 
writer  had  with  an  expert  on  fire  prevention,  the  statement 
was  made  that"  there  was  no  fatality  on  record  in  fires 
occurring'in  buildings  equipped  with  automatic  sprinklers  in 
which  pressure  was  maintained.  One  case  was  mentioned 
in  which  life  was  lost  but  in  this  case  the  pressure  was  not 


66 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS  67 

on  the  sprinklers.  This  point  is  mentioned  to  show  that 
where  a  sprinkler  system  is  installed  and  properly  main- 
tained, the  danger  from  fire  is  really  very  small.  Where, 
however,  the  buildings  are  of  fireproof  construction, where 
fire  drills  are  systematically  carried  on,  especially  where 
female  help  is  employed,  and  a  regularly  organized  fire 
department  is  maintained,  the  danger  is  very  small.  In 
manufacturing  industries  where  large  amounts  of  japan, 
benzine,  oil,  and  other  inflammable  materials  are  used,  too 
much  attention  cannot  be  devoted  to  inspection  and  to 
obtaining  detail  cooperation  as  pointed  out  in  the  attached 
comments  by  Mr.  P.  W.  Power,1  Mechanical  Engineer, 
Pittsfield  works. 

1.  THE  MAIN  THING  ABOUT  FIRES  IS  TO  PREVENT  THEM. 

2.  In  manufacturing  electrical  apparatus  there  is  more  opportunity 
for  fires  than  in  some  other  lines  of  work.     Certain  departments  require 
special  care  on  the  part  of  employees.     Such  departments  are:  painting 
and  japanning  where  benzine  or  other  solvents  are  used  which  are  very 
inflammable  and,  under  certain  conditions,  also  explosive;  insulating 
departments   where  linseed  oil,   varnish,   benzine,   alcohol   and  other 
highly  inflammable   materials   are   used;   also   departments  in  which 
cotton,  numerous  soldering  irons,  lead  melting  pots,  etc.,  are  required; 
and  testing  departments  and  all  other  places  where  electric  wiring, 
much  of  it  carrying  current  at  high  voltage,  is  to  be  found.     Also  in 
this  business  a  great  quantity  of  transil  oil  is  used  in  the  insulation  of 
transformers,  regulators,  switches  and  other  apparatus  and  in  treating 
wood,  and,  while  this  oil  is  not  especially  liable  to  become  ignited,  when 
once  burning  it  makes  a  bad  fire  and  one  that  is  hard  to  put  out. 

3.  In  departments  that  use  japan,  varnish  and  oil  tanks,  and  in 
baking  ovens  where  special  risk  is  involved,  special  equipment  for  putting 
out  fires  has  been  provided.     Some  of  the  ovens  are  connected  with 
steam  pipes  to  smother  fires.     Some  of  the  testing  departments  have  a 
supply  of  carbonic  acid  gas  for  putting  out  oil  fires  in  closed  tanks.     In 
some  places  sawdust  boxes  for  smothering  japan,  varnish,  or  benzine 
fires  have  been  installed. 

4.  The  employees  in  departments  where  these  special  conditions  exist 
should  know  the  purpose  of  the  appliances  and  know  how  to  use  them, 
and  it  is  important  for  each  to  do  his  part  in  seeing  that  such  appliances 
are  not  tampered  with,  nor  their  value  impaired  in  any  way  through 
the  carelessness  or  stupidity  of  some  fellow-employee.     For  instance, 

1  "Fire  Prevention." 


68  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

what  good  is  a  fire  pail,  that  is  supposed  to  contain  water,  if  the  pail 
has  been  emptied  through  the  carelessness  of  someone  and  hung  back 
empty  on  its  hook?  Or  what  good  is  a  sand  box,  if  someone  needing 
a  shovel  for  some  purpose  has  taken  the  shovel  that  belongs  to  the  sand 
box  and  failed  to  return  it?  No  fire  equipment  should  be  meddled  with 
or  used  for  any  other  purpose  than  for  what  it  is  intended.  It  is  ob- 
viously to  the  advantage  of  all  to  further  the  prevention  of  fires  in  the 
first  place  and  to  keep  cool  and  act  quickly  if  a  fire  gets  started. 

5.  The  main  thing  about  fires  is  to  prevent  them.     Fires  are  of  two 
kinds:  those  that  could  not  have  been  foreseen  and  those  that  could 
have  been  prevented.     Nearly  every  large  fire  starts  as  a  small  one. 
Keeping  these  two  things  in  mind  (first,  that  most  fires  can  be  pre- 
vented; and  second,  that  most  all  fires  have  a  very  small  beginning), 
it  at  once  calls  attention  to  the  importance  of  prevention  before  the 
fire  and  of  quick  action  while  the  fires  that  do  start  are  yet  small.     The 
work  of  putting  out  small  fires  is  usually  done  quickly  by  the  person 
nearest  at  hand,  but  occasionally  some  small  fire  starts  when  no  one  is 
near,  or  it  so  quickly  becomes  a  large  fire  that  the  fire  department  is 
called  and  they  proceed  in  the  regular  way  and  by  use  of  the  regular 
fire  equipment  to  put  out  the  fire;  but  the  important  work  of  fire  pre- 
vention is  constantly  under  way  and  can  and  should  be  shared  in  by 
all  employees. 

6.  The  policy  of  the  company  is  to  provide  substantial  buildings  of 
fireproof  or  of  very  slow-burning  construction  and  to  equip  the  build- 
ings with  sprinklers,  interior  hose  lines,  fire  pails  for  sand  and  water, 
outside  hydrant  connections  and  a  fire  alarm  system;  but  all  of  these 
things,  excepting  only  the  original  construction  of  the  buildings,  are 
for  use  after  the  fire  is  once  started,  while  the  great  work  of  prevention 
is  a  constant  need  that  requires  the  interest  and  help  of  all. 

7.  As  fires  usually  start  in  a  small  way,  it  is  the  little  things  that 
each  individual  can  take  a  part  in  that  help  to  prevent  fires,  such  as 
keeping  lockers  and  bench  drawers  in  good  order  and  free  from  oily 
waste  or  oily  overalls;  making  use  of  metal  receptacles  for  oily  waste 
and  other  material  that  burn  readily  or  that  may  start  a  fire  spon- 
taneously;  keeping   wood,    shavings,    cloth,    etc.,   from   steam   pipes; 
reporting  gas  and  oil  leaks;  seeing  that  flexible  hose  connections  to  gas 
pipes  are  in  good  order;  using  gasoline   with   great  care  and  only  in 
closed  cans,  keeping  passageways  to  fire  pails  and  inside  hose  lines 
open  and  free  from  obstructions,  etc. 

8.  It  is  of  particular  importance  to  have  every  individual  know  the 
location  of  the  sand  or  water  pail  nearest  to  his  work,  the  nearest  inside 
mill  hose  line  and  the  nearest  fire  alarm  box.     Every  employee  should 
also  know  two  ways  to  get  out  of  the  building  and  those  that  know  these 
things  can  benefit  themselves,  as  well  as  their  companions,  by  telling 
those  that  do  not  know  and,  especially,  showing  the  importance  of  these 


SPECIFIC  ACCIDENTS 


69 


things  to  new  employees  and  thus  preventing  panic  and  confusion  should 
a  fire  occur. 

9.  During  the  past  year  the  fire  alarm  has  been  rung  in  twice  when 
there  was  no  fire,  because  of  the  presence  of  smoke  from  a  tar  Jtetfcle 
or  locomotive  standing  outside  of  the  building.  Probably  prompt 
action  when  a  fire  is  once  discovered  is  more  commendable  than  most 
anything  else,  but  when  such  action  is  coupled  with  coolness  and  cer- 
tainty it  is  all  the  more  commendable.  While  employees  should  be 
quick  to  ring  in  an  alarm  in  case  of  fire,  it  is  also  desirable  that  they  be 


In  case  of  fire,  fuse  melts,  releases  lids  which  close  and  smother  fire. 

quicker  still  to  make  sure  that  there  is  a  fire,  if  possible,  before  ringing 
in  an  alarm. 

10.  In  the  first  part  of  these  notes  no  mention  was  made  of  our 
fire  department,  among  the  list  of  protective  equipment.  A  fire  de- 
partment comprising  a  chief,  assistant  chief  and  from  35  to  40  men, 
responds  whenever  the  fire  alarm  calls  them.  The  members  of  the 
fire  department  are  selected  from  different  departments,  so  that  they 
will  be  generally  distributed  throughout  the  works,  and  members  are 
appointed  only  on  recommendation  of  the  foreman  of  the  department 
in  which  they  work.  The  company  values  and  highly  appreciates 
the  services  that  these  men  give,  and,  as  a  slight  token  of  this  apprecia- 


70  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

tion,  have  recently  inaugurated  a  plan  of  giving  to  each  man  who  has 
been  a  member  of  the  hose  company  for  ten  years  a  gold  pin  as  a 
memento. 

11.  Besides  the  fire  department  there  are  regular  patrolmen  who 
inspect  the  buildings  and  yards  day  and  night.     While  it  is  the  business 
of  these  men  to  see  things  and  report  them  or  have  them  attended  to, 
they  cannot  see  everything. 

12.  All  employees  should  make  it  a  point  to  know  who  the  fire  de- 
partment members  are  in  their  particular  division  or  building,  so  that 
they  can  call  the  attention  of  these  members  of  the  department  from 
time  to  time  to  whatever  they  see  that  looks  to  them  like  a  fire  risk. 
The  members  of  our  fire  department  will  be  glad  to  talk  with  any  em- 
ployee about  any  fire  risk  or  about  how  to  act  in  case  of  fire,  and  they 
will,  in  turn,  present  any  information  that  they  collect  in  this  way  to 
the  fire  chief  for  further  action  when  warranted. 

THE  MAIN  THING  ABOUT  FIRES  Is  To  PREVENT  THEM 

The  idea  of  the  fusible  plug  used  in  sprinkler  systems 
can  be  carried  still  further  and  used  to  advantage  in  auto- 
matically smothering  fires  that  start  in  dipping  tanks. 
Iron  doors,  hinged  and  swung  beyond  the  center  of  gravity, 
are  held  in  place  by  fusible  links  which  melt  in  case  of  fire, 
and  close  the  lids  as  shown  in  the  illustration.  This  same 
idea  has  many  other  applications. 

FIRE  DRILL  SUGGESTIONS 

Don't  get  excited. 
Don't  crowd. 

Don't  stop  for  personal  effects. 
Don't  talk  while  marching. 
Don't  lock  arms  while  marching. 
Don't  forget  the  drill  signals. 
Don't  delay  in  dressing  rooms. 
Don't  throw  these  directions  away. 
Don't  fail  to  follow  your  leaders. 


CHAPTER  III 

MEDICAL   AND    PHYSICAL   EXAMINATION    OF   EMPLOYEES 

WITH    SPECIAL    REFERENCE    TO    TUBERCULOSIS 

AND  HERNIA 

Workmen's  compensation  laws,  created  for  the  purpose 
of  reducing  accidents  in  industry,  form  part  of  the  code  of 
many  States.  As  health  plays  an  important  part  in  ac- 
cident prevention  work,  employers  are  taking  greater  pains 
to  inquire  into  the  physical  fitness  of  present  employees 
as  well  as  of  new  employees.  This  is  not  being  done  with 
any  idea  of  shirking  the  responsibility  of  the  welfare  of 
employees,  as  many  companies  have  elaborate  schemes  of 
vacations,  rest  rooms  for  girls,  visiting  nurses,  social  ac- 
tivities for  employees,  plans  of  caring  for  tuberculous 
employees,  old-age  pensions  and  profit-sharing  schemes. 
Where  such  responsibilities  are  assumed  for  those  forming 
part  of  organizations,  and  where  large  sums  are  being  spent 
to  increase  the  efficiency,  health,  comfort  and  safety  of 
these  employees,  it  is  natural  that  employers  should  be 
extremely  cautious  of  the  physical  condition  of  those  about 
to  enter  their  organization. 

The  introduction  of  medical  and  physical  examination  of 
new  employees  is  one  of  the  greatest  steps  taken  in  recent 
years,  toward  placing  a  premium  on  health.  Take,  for 
instance,  a  college  boy  preparing  for  engineering  work  and 
let  him  know  that  his  whole  future  career  depends  upon  his 
leading  a  clean  life,  and  it  will  do  more  toward  raising  the 
standard  of  college  morality  than  many  reforms  which 
could  otherwise  be  instituted. 

Admission  to  the  Army  and  Navy,  admission  to  fire 
departments,  police  departments,  life  insurance  tests, 
require  a  high  degree  of  physical  fitness.  Why,  therefore, 
should  employers  not  follow  these  well-established  pre- 
71 


72 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


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EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  75 

cedents,  especially  when  a  large  share  of  the  burden  of 
liability  for  accidents  occurring  as  a  result  of  personal 
weakness  rests  at  the  present  time  upon  the  employer? 

Where  a  company  supplements  medical  inspection  of 
new  employees  with  that  of  periodical  inspection  of  old 
employees,  it  is  done  for  the  purpose  of  locating  tuber- 
culosis; venereal  diseases,  which  may  be  transmitted  to 
other  employees;  cases  of  hernia,  or  weaknesses  liable  to 
develop  into  bad  cases  of  rupture  under  continued  strain. 
When  companies  do  not  follow  a  system  of  medical  and 
physical  inspection,  there  is  a  tendency  to  get  the  defectives 
from  other  companies.  The  following  statement  of  Mr. 
Morey  of  the  Commonwealth  Steel  Company,  made  in 
1914,  bears  this  out: 

"  We  have  not  started  our  physical  examinations  yet,  but  we  expect 
to  next  month.  We  have  been  preparing  to  do  it.  We  vvere  compelled 
to  do  it  through  having  a  number  of  hernia  cases  where  there  is  a  lot 
of  heavy  lifting.  I  believe  the  Ohio  Industrial  Board  has  ruled  that 
hernia  is  not  an  'accident.'  A  susceptibility  to  hernia  is  discernible 
and  we  thought  in  self-protection  we  should  know  that.  And  the  same 
with  traveling  crane  men;  we  thought  we  should  know  something  about 
their  physical  condition.  We  had  a  man  who  had  a  fit,  and  he  fell 
into  a  'heat.'  Then  too,  we  have  had  situations  arise  where  falls  could 
have  been  claimed  to  have  been  caused  by  accidents  when  they  were 
not.  The  thought  also  has  been  brought  out,  how  other  companies 
having  examination  of  employees,  forced  us  to  do  it.  That  gave  us 
the  off  scouring  from  the  other  companies.  We  had  information  that 
some  men  who  had  been  rejected  at  other  plants  came  to  our  plant  and 
secured  employment,  which  is,  of  course,  very  undesirable." 

The  medical  examination  required  by  the  United  States 
Army  requires  a  high  physical  standard  to  pass.  The  system 
followed  is  to  require  a  preliminary  examination  followed 
by  a  complete  examination.  Out  of  30,000  recruits,  five 
times  as  many  were  rejected  after  making  the  first  ex- 
amination. Out  of  1,000  accepted  recruits,  124  were  re- 
jected on  the  second  medical  examination. 

At  a  conference  on  "  Medical  Examination  of  Employees'7 
held  in  Washington,  Dr.  Harry  E.  Mock  of  Sears,  Roebuck 
Company,  Chicago,  presented  the  following  data  showing 


76  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

their  method  of  handling  this  work  as  well  as  the  result  of 
several  years'  experience: 

"  Every  employee,  male  and  female,  from  the  head  of  the  concern 
down,  should  be  examined.  Naturally,  the  greatest  interest  should 
center  on  the  present  working  force  and  here  the  physical  examination 
of  employees  should  begin — there  should  be  a  general  house-cleaning. 
This,  of  course,  will  take  a  great  deal  of  time,  depending  on  the  size 
of  the  working  force  and  number  of  doctors  employed.  The  best 
method  is  the  systematic  examination  of  employees  in  department  after 
department  until  all  have  been  examined.  But  the  examination  and 
reexamination  of  the  old  working  force  is  inadequate  unless  the  portals 
of  the  industry  are  guarded.  Therefore,  an  examination  of  all  new 
employees  is  the  second  essential  in  raising  the  health  standards;  like- 
wise, it  is  the  first  essential  in  protecting  the  concern  from  workers  who 
are  below  par. 

"  When  to  examine  these  new  employees  must  be  determined  by  each 
industry.  The  ideal  time  is  before  beginning  work.  From  a  practical 
basis,  however,  this  is  frequently  impossible;  for  instance,  when  a 
large  number  of  people  are  employed,  often  temporarily  and  upon 
very  short  notice.  Therefore,  a  flexible  rule  must  be  adopted  so  that, 
where  possible,  every  applicant  for  work  shall  be  examined  before 
employment.  Otherwise,  they  shall  be  examined  the  first  week  or 
month  of  their  service. 

"Another  ideal  arrangement  in  this  scheme  of  medical  supervision 
would  be  the  repetition  of  these  general  examinations  at  stated  intervals 
— say,  every  six  months.  Again,  this  is  not  practical,  especially  in  our 
larger  industries,  owing  to  the  number  of  doctors  necessary  at  all  times 
to  accomplish  this.  A  comprehensive,  yet  workable  system,  which  the 
writer  has  gradually  evolved  during  the  last  five  years  for  the  examina- 
tion and  reexamination  of  employees  in  a  large  industry  of  Chicago 
having  over  10,000  men  and  women,  is  adaptable  to  any  concern. 

"Any  employee  who  at  the  first  examination  is  found  to  have  the 
least  suspicious  findings  of  any  disease  is  filed  under  the  heading  of 
'Reexamination.'  In  the  course  of  a  week,  month,  or  three  months, 
according  to  the  doctor's  decision,  he  is  recalled  and  again  examined. 
This  is  repeated  as  often  as  his  condition  warrants. 

"Other  types  of  suspicious  cases  are  assigned  to  a  nurse  to  have  their 
temperature  and  pulse  watched  morning  and  evening  for  one  or  two 
weeks.  If  any  abnormal  condition  is  found  in  the  temperature  chart 
of  such  an  employee,  he  is  relieved  from  work  until  a  final  diagnosis  is 
made  and  his  future  care  outlined.  Likewise,  when  an  employee  returns 
to  work  after  some  chronic  disease  has  been  cured  or  arrested,  he  is 
frequently  examined  to  guard  against  a  recurrence. 

"All  employees  who  become  sick  while  at  work  are  sent  to  the  doctor's 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  77 

office  for  a  'pass'  before  going  home.  And  all  employees  absent  on 
account  of  illness,  of  even  one  day's  duration,  must  secure  a  permit 
from  the  physician  before  returning  to  work.  By  this  rule,  the  medical 
staff  is  enabled  to  watch  those  employees  most  frequently- absent  on 
account  of  illness  and  thus  quite  often  some  incipient  disease  is  revealed 
as  the  cause  of  this  decreased  working  capacity. 

"  Out  of  666  cases  recently  examined,  85  were  rejected  for  the  following 
reasons : 

Active  tuberculosis 11 

Suspicious 10 

Tubercular  glands  of  the  neck 2 

Heart  trouble 7 

Anemia  and  chlorosis 12 

Epilepsy 2 

Bright's  disease 9 

Diphtheria 1 

Cirrhosis  of  the  liver 1 

Venereal  diseases 7 

Hernia 4 

Physical  defects 10 

Sick,  no  definite  diagnosis 9 

Total 85 

"Out  of  500  applicants  for  their  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  43  were 
rejected  for  the  following  reasons: 

Tuberculosis 7' 

Heart  disease 9 

Bright's  disease 6 

Goitre '.  .  .  8 

Diabetes 1 

Anemia  and  chlorosis 4 

Physical  defects 8 

Total 43 

As  a  supplement  to  medical  examination  of  employees, 
the  following  medical  work  is  carried  on  by  Sears,  Roebuck 
Company : 

They  are  constantly  on  the  watch  for  employees  below  par. 

Reexamination  of  new  employees  reveals  many  suspicious  cases  which 
are  watched  and  checked  at  frequent  intervals. 

All  sick  people  are  sent  to  the  dispensary  before  being  allowed  to  go 
home. 


78  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

All  sick  employees  must  report  to  the  dispensary  and  obtain  a  permit 
before  being  allowed  to  return  to  work. 

The  visiting  nurse  discovers  many  things.  When  an  employee  stays 
out  longer  than  one  day,  the  case  is  referred  to  the  visiting  nurse. 

Circular  letters  and  talks  are  very  good  in  stimulating  cooperation. 
The  foremen,  as  the  result  of  these  talks,  soon  learn  to  detect  cases 
themselves. 

Every  individual  who  visits  the  dispensary  has  his  temperature, 
pulse  and  weight  taken. 

When  a  tuberculous  person  is  found,  those  working  near  the  individual 
are  carefully  examined. 

In  1913,  there  were  101  cases  of  tuberculosis  found  by  Sears,  Roebuck 
Company.  These  were  located  through  the  following  channels: 

Those  seeking  employment 22 

Applying  to  the  Benefit  Association  for  membership 7 

Located  by  the  foremen  of  departments 28 

Sick  employees  referred  to  the  doctor's  office 20 

Found  by  nurse 13 

Referred  by  family  physician 3 

Reported  by  patients  themselves 3 

Miscellaneous 5 

Total 101 

The  question  naturally  arises  as  to  what  will  happen  to 
the  defective  laboring  man  when  all  manufacturing  organi- 
zations have  instituted  medical  and  physical  inspection  at 
time  of  employment.  It  means  simply  two  things:  if  the 
employee  becomes  defective  while  engaged,  his  employer 
will  devise  some  way  of  bringing  him  back  to  normal,  if 
possible.  This  will  be  necessary,  as  good  health  has  con- 
siderable bearing  on  accident  prevention.  A  sick  person 
lacks  the  quickness  often  necessary  to  avoid  accidents, 
lacks  concentration  on  the  task  immediately  in  hand 
due  to  brooding  over  ill  health.  This  also  accelerates  the 
accident  rate.  All  these  things,  coupled  with  a  feeling  of 
responsibility,  make  the  employer  use  methods  to  cure  the 
employee  or  pension  him  if  beyond  cure.  The  second 
thought  concerns  the  defective  who  seeks  mechanical 
employment  but  who  is  unable  to  secure  it  because  of  his 
physical  condition.  It  simply  means  that  such  men  will 
either  be  employed  through  some  undeveloped  system  in 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  79 

which  they  will  carry  their  own  accident  risk,  such  as 
signing  a  waiver  which  has  a  legal  standing;  or  it  will  be 
necessary  for  them  to  engage  in  other  occupations  where 
the  danger  from  accidents  is  small  and  which  are  not 
included  in  workmen's  compensation  systems.  Some  eco- 
nomic system  will  necessarily  have  to  be  developed  which 
will  not  make  these  people  a  charge  on  the  community. 
It  is  rather  interesting  to  note  the  methods  used  by  some 
of  the  large  organizations  to  handle  the  serious  cases  of 
sickness  which  develop  among  their  employees. 

Tuberculosis. — This  disease  is  particularly  hard  to  locate 
among  employees  due  to  several  things:  a  tuberculous 
employee  is  usually  secretive,  realizing  that  if  his  fellow- 
workmen  know  he  is  afflicted  he  will  be  let  alone.  He  is 
usually  optimistic  and  feels  that  his  trouble  will  soon  clear 
itself.  He  has  a  natural  aversion  to  leaving  his  family 
and  being  isolated  at  a  tuberculosis  camp  with  others  in 
worse  condition  than  himself.  For  this  reason,  home  treat- 
ment is  to  be  preferred  where  it  can  be  carried  on  under  the 
supervision  of  a  visiting  nurse.  Another  unfortunate  habit 
develops,  sometimes,  when  this  individual  has  been  kept 
at  a  camp  for  six  months  and  has  gotten  into  the  habit  of 
not  working  and  of  being  cared  for  at  no  expense  to  himself. 
This  creates  a  habit  of  not  wanting  to  work  and  the  person 
whom  at  first  it  has  been  extremely  difficult  to  persuade 
to  enter  a  tuberculosis  camp,  does  not  care  to  leave.  To 
prevent  this  habit  from  being  developed,  some  companies 
have  gone  to  the  extreme  of  providing  open-air  workrooms 
on  their  roofs  where  tuberculous  employees  may  continue 
their  regular  tasks,  being  clothed  with  sufficient  warmth 
so  that  they  may  work  in  the  open.  This  appears  to  be 
an  excellent  scheme  as  it  provides  the  patient  with  sunlight 
and  fresh  air,  making  it  simply  necessary  for  him  to  have 
open-air  sleeping  quarters  at  home  and  good  wholesome 
food.  It  also  does  not  impair  his  earning  capacity,  keeps 
a  contented  state  of  mind,  prevents  him  from  being  a  charge 
on  the  community,  and  enables  him  to  retain  in  a  large 
measure  his  status  in  society. 


80  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  81 

The  writer  has  come  into  contact  with  many  tuber- 
culosis cases  and  his  experience  simply  bears  out  that  of 
others,  if  you  can  locate  tuberculous  patients  in  the  early 
stages  of  the  disease,  in  almost  every  case  the  disease"  may 
be  arrested  and  the  person  restored  to  practically  normal 
condition.  Worry,  lack  of  proper  food,  lack  of  fresh  air, 
and  dissipation  are  the  principal  causes  of  tuberculosis. 

Where  such  welfare  work  is  being  carried  on  in  our  large 
organizations,  it  is  being  done  with  as  little  publicity  as 
possible;  the  employee  in  many  cases  leaves  one  depart- 
ment, remains  away  till  cured,  and,  upon  his  return  goes 
into  another  department  without  others  being  cognizant 
of  what  has  taken  place.  This  is  the  proper  way  of  carrying 
on  this  work. 

Many  unfamiliar  with  the  nature  of  tuberculosis  have  a 
mistaken  notion  of  the  danger  of  living  at  a  sanatorium  and 
of  working  with  an  employee  who  has  an  arrested  case  of 
tuberculosis.  The  following  letter  from  the  late  Dr.  J. 
F.  A.  Adams,  a  well-known  specialist  on  tuberculosis  in 
Pittsfield,  Mass.,  is  instructive  in  this  connection: 

"We  are  pleased  to  note  in  the  community  an  increase  in  knowledge 
of  the  nature  of  tuberculosis  and  of  the  means  of  prevention;  but,  from 
the  imperfection  of  such  knowledge,  certain  misapprehensions  have 
arisen.  One  of  these  is  an  excessive  fear  of  infection.  We  sometimes 
find  patients  afraid  to  go  to  a  camp  or  sanatorium  because  they  believe 
the  presence  of  other  patients  will  be  a  source  of  danger  to  themselves. 
We  .wish  to  assure  those  who  have  this  dread  that  a  tuberculosis  sana- 
torium is  the  safest  place  in  the  world.  In  such  an  institution  the 
care  taken  to  destroy  all  sputum  and  to  prevent  promiscuous  spitting, 
renders  infection  almost  impossible,  for  which  reason  we  consider  our 
camp  a  safer  place  than  North  Street. 

"Moreover,  there  is  no  danger  from  living  or  working  with  a  con- 
sumptive in  whom  the  disease  is  arrested  and  who  has  ceased  to  cough 
and  expectorate.  Even  one  in  whom  the  disease  is  still  active,  but  who 
has  been  instructed  at  a  sanatorium  and  carefully  follows  the  rules 
he  has  learned  there,  is  not  a  public  danger.  An  ignorance  of  these 
facts  has  made  it  unnecessarily  difficult  for  a  cured  or  careful  consump- 
tive to  obtain  work  or  board. 

"Owing  to  the  systematized  way  in  which  the  anti- tuberculosis  cam- 
paign is  being  carried  on,  state-wide,  nation-wide,  and  world-wide,  the 
death  rate  from  this  most  destructive  of  diseases  is  steadily  declining. 


82  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

This  decline  is  sufficient  to  give  us  confidence  in  the  ultimate  success 
of  our  efforts,  but  not  sufficient  to  justify  us  in  relaxing  our  vigilance. 
One  of  the  greatest  obstacles  which  we  encounter  is  the  tendency  to 
become  lukewarm  in  the  cause,  among  those  who  are  not  brought  into 
personal  contact  with  this  disease.  For  this  reason  it  is  necessary  to 
bring  the  subject,  over  and  over  again,  to  the  public  attention  and  to 
do  everything  possible  to  keep  alive  a  widespread  public  enthusiasm." 

On  behalf  of  the  Executive  Committee, 

J.  F.  A.  ADAMS,  M.  D., 
President. 

Pittsfield,  Mass.,  May  23,  1913. 

The  experience  of  the  International  Harvester  Company 
in  tuberculosis  work  is  given  by  Dr.  James  A.  Britton  in 
the  following  paper: 

"The  primary  object  of  the  work  undertaken  by  us  was  to  discover 
all  cases  of  tuberculosis  and  to  start  proper  treatment  as  early  as  possible. 
The  work  is  now  developing  into  a  system  of  study  of  all  physical  disa- 
bilities of  employees,  with  the  object  of  the  early  detection  of  any  dis- 
ease and  locating  and  correcting  conditions  shown  to  be  responsible 
for  disease.  It  is  not  a  move  on  the  part  of  employers  to  'weed  out' 
poor  workmen,  but  to  safeguard  the  well  man  and  to  bring  back  health 
to  the  others.  Positions  are  found  for  all  who  regain  health  sufficiently 
to  return. 

"  Beginning  with  the  International  Harvester  Company,  the  move- 
ment has  spread  rapidly,  and  at  present  has  been  taken  up  by  firms  in 
Chicago  representing  over  100,000  employees.  While  it  is  impossible 
at  this  time  to  report  on  the  results  of  this  work  with  other  companies, 
and  while  it  is  difficult  to  measure  increased  efficiency,  I  am  able  to 
report  on  the  work  done  by  the  Harvester  Company  which  has 
resulted  in: 

1.  A  marked  decrease  in  the  number  of  cases  of  tuberculosis. 

2.  Constant  improvement  in  factory  conditions  affecting  health. 

3.  Consequent  improvement  in  the  welfare  of  the  workers  by: 

(a)  Many  workers  restored  to  health. 

(b)  Less  illness. 

(c)  More  steady  employment. 

"The  routine  at  first  instituted  consisted  in  a  careful  examination 
of  all^employees  who  for  any  reason  were  thought  to  be  tuberculous. 
The  present  routine  consists  of  (a)  a  careful  examination  of  all  prospec- 
tive employees,  (6)  a  yearly  'inspection'  of  all  those  working  and  (c) 
a  careful  reexamination  and  periodic  reinspection  of  all  those  who  for 
any  reason  are  found  from  time  to  time  to  be  below  normal. 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  83 

"The  physical  examinations  are  thorough  in  the  ordinary  medical 
sense,  with  examination  of  blood,  urine,  and  sputum  if  indicated.  These 
examinations  are  made  in  the  doctor's  office,  which  is  provided  for  the 
purpose. 

"The  'inspections'  are  superficial  examinations,  including  weight, 
temperature  and  pulse,  general  appearance  and  history.  These  inspec- 
tions are  usually  made  in  the  office  of  the  department  in  which  the 
employee  works. 

"The  result  of  three  years'  more  or  less  careful  supervision  of  health 
so  far  as  tuberculosis  is  concerned,  of  the  group  of  about  20,000  Harvester 
employees  in  Chicago,  is  illustrated  by  the  following  figures,  in  which 
are  included  all  cases  of  known  bone  and  glandular  tuberculosis  as  well 
as  pulmonary  tuberculosis,  and  they  are  included  regardless  of  whether 
the  disease  is  open  and  active  or  apparently  arrested: 

"There  was  found  in  the  year  ending  August  1,  1912,  a  ratio  of  88 
cases  of  tuberculosis  per  10,000  employees.  In  the  following  year,  with 
a  more  careful  inspection  of  the  same  group,  the  ratio  of  cases  found 
was  only  54  per  10,000  employees,  while  the  current  fiscal  year,  with  still 
more  extensive  and  careful  effort  to  discover  cases,  thus  far  promises  a 
ratio  of  less  than  45  per  10,000. 

"As  compared  with  the  prevalence  of  tuberculosis  in  Chicago,  as  a 
whole,  these  figures  are  much  lower  than  the  most  conservative  esti- 
mates made  by  those  in  position  to  judge.  The  most  conservative 
figure  given  is  from  90  to  100  per  10,000  population  of  active  cases  of 
tuberculosis,  while  an  estimate  of  200  per  10,000  would  hardly  be  large 
enough  if  all  were  included,  regardless  of  condition  or  type  of  the  dis- 
ease, as  in  the  figures  for  the  Harvester  Company.  Our  experience  with 
this  group  of  Harvester  employees  thus  indicates  that  tuberculosis  is 
not  more  than  one-fourth  as  prevalent  among  these  industrial  workers  as 
it  is  throughout  the  community  as  a  whole. 

"Some  of  the  improvements  in  shop  conditions  which  were  made  with 
the  sole  object  of  improving  the  health  of  the  workers  include: 

"l.  Extensive  ventilating  systems,  and 

"2.  Dust-removing  systems. 

"3.  Sanitary  drinking  fountains,  wash  basins,  toilets  and  shower 
baths. 

"The  defmiteness  with  which  unhygienic  conditions  are  pointed  out 
by  the  system  of  medical  examinations  is  illustrated  by  an  analysis  of 
the  cases  of  illness  according  to  shop  departments.  li  was  found  that 
while  in  one  department  employing  700  men  there  was  only  one  case 
of  tuberculosis  in  two  years,  there  were  other  departments  in  which  the 
number  of  cases  considerably  exceeded  the  average  for  the  whole  plant 
and  approached  the  average  for  the  community. 

"At  the  time  this  work  was  begun  little  thought  was  given  to  con- 
ditions among  office  employees,  yet  when  400  of  these  employees  were 


84  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

examined,  a  rate  of  tuberculosis  was  found  higher  than  the  average  for 
the  shop  departments.  This  condition  was  found  to  be  due,  not  to 
unwholesome  office  conditions,  but  to  the  general  physical  type  of 
office  employees  as  compared  to  those  doing  manual  work,  and  served 
to  emphasize  the  special  need  of  medical  supervision  for  office  workers 
as  well  as  those  in  the  work  shops. 

"The  question  arose  at  the  beginning  of  this  work,  and  has  arisen 
again  and  again  with  each  new  firm  which  has  undertaken  such  work,  as 
to  the  attitude  of  the  employees  toward  medical  inspection.  In  a 
total  of  over  20,000  examinations  and  inspections  of  Harvester  em- 
ployees, covering  a  period  of  nearly  three  years,  there  were  not  to 
exceed  20  employees  who  objected  and  most  of  these  20  willingly  sub- 
mitted to  the  examination  after  the  purposes  had  been  carefully  explained 
to  them.  Again,  the  cooperation  of  the  employees  is  shown  in  their 
attitude  toward  sanatorium  care.  Each  employee  who  is  found  to 
have  tuberculosis  in  an  active  stage  is  urged  to  consent  to  go  to  a  sana- 
torium where  he  will  get  proper  treatment.  The  Harvester  Company 
cooperates  with  its  Benefit  Association  in  sharing  with  the  employee 
the  expense  of  sanatorium  care  and,  when  necessary,  aids  in  caring  for 
the  family  so  that  the  patient  may  be  relieved  of  worry  and  be  afforded 
the  most  favorable  conditions  for  recovery. 

"During  the  first  year  of  this  work  only  40  per  cent,  of  those  who 
needed  sanatorium  care  would  consent  to  go,  while  during  the  second 
year  this  percentage  was  increased  to  60  and  during  the  present  year 
the  number  taking  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  get  sanatorium 
care  will  be  over  80  per  cent,  of  those  needing  special  care. 

"If  it  is  honestly  shown  that,  in  this  plan  for  gaining  a  knowledge  of 
the  health  conditions  among  employees,  the  effort  is  one  intended  to 
improve  conditions  and  to  help  those  who  develop  illness  back  to  good 
health,  and  not  a  means  of  simply  eliminating  individuals,  the  willing 
cooperation  of  the  employees  can  be  assumed. 

"The  advantages  of  the  medical  examination  can  be  summarized  as 
follows : 

"1.  An  early  discovery  of  disease  greatly  increases  the  possibility  of 
cure,  and  usually  guarantees  a  shortened  period  of  disability. 

"2.  The  knowledge  of  the  existence  of  any  disease  makes  possi- 
ble a  reduction  of  contagion  and,  consequently,  a  reduction  of  those 
disabled. 

"3.  If  the  number  of  cases  and  the  exact  working  places  of  those 
developing  a  given  disease  is  known,  it  is  possible  to  judge  the  relative 
importance  of  the  various  health  factors  in  an  occupation. 

"It  is  then  evident  that  this  system  of  medical  examination  can  be 
made  the  basis  of  great  economic  service  to  the  employee  as  well  as 
the  employer,  and  through  both  these,  to  the  community." 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  85 

Hernia  (Rupture). — The  question  of  handling  hernia 
cases  is  one  which  is  affording  considerable  concern  to 
industry  at  the  present  day.  Some  companies  are  opera- 
ting on  all  cases  they  discover  in  their  employees— 
whether  through  cases  becoming  aggravated  and  being 
reported  to  the  company  physician,  or  being  discovered 
through  medical  inspection  of  old  employees.  The  idea 
of  operating  on  all  cases  does  not  seem  exactly  wise,  as  there 


I 


Incorrect  and  correct  way  of  lifting. 

are  some  cases  which  will  not  stand  being  operated  upon, 
in  which  an  operation  would  be  fatal. 

Medical  statistics  show  that  it  is  impossible  for  a  rupture 
to  occur  to  an  individual  who  is  not  born  with  a  small 
puncture  in  the  peritoneum,  irrespective  of  how  severe  the 
work  may  be.  A  strain  may  result,  but  not  a  rupture. 
The  strain  may  aggravate  a  rupture,  but  it  will  not  cause 
it.  Where  a  tendency  to  hernia  exists,  the  weakness  reveals 
itself  under  physical  examination. 

Dr.  C.  A.  Lauffer,  of  the  Westinghouse  Company,  dis- 
cusses as  follows  on  this  subject: 


86  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

"Hernia  (rupture)  is  not  an  accident,  though  often  so  regarded  by 
the  patient.  The  location  of  the  points  of  imperfect  closure  in  the 
abdominal  wall  are  well  known  to  surgeons.  It  is  due  to  imperfect 
closure  that  a  man  develops  hernia.  A  surgeon  can  safely  predict  in 
whom  it  will  arise  by  a  careful  physical  examination.  Yet  many 
cases  of  hernia,  where  the  rings  are  large  and  have  long  been  patent, 
are  reported  as  accidents." 

" Hernia"  by  Dr.  D.  H.  Keller: 

"  Hernia  is  defined  as  the  protrusion  of  a  viscus  (organ)  through  an 
abnormal  opening  in  the  wall  of  the  containing  cavity. 

"  There  are  a  great  many  varieties  of  hernia,  the  abdominal  hernia 
occurring  most  frequently.  A  hernia  is  the  outward  and  visible  proof 
that  an  individual  was  born  with  a  hole  in  his  abdomen  which,  though  it 
should  have  closed,  did  not  close  before  birth.  Without  fear  of  proof 
to  the  contrary,  the  author  declares  that  no  man  who  ever  lived,  who 
was  born  and  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  minutes  without  the  presence 
of  an  abnormal  hole  in  his  abdominal  wall,  ever  sustained  a  hernia 
through  any  force  suddenly  applied,  no  matter  how  great,  unless 
that  force  was  accompanied  by  a  penetrating  wound  at  the  point  in  the 
abdominal  wall  where  hernia  appears.  (We  are,  of  course,  discussing 
abdominal  hernia,  and  especially  inguinal  hernia.) 

WHY  NOT  MORE  VICTIMS? 

"Let  us  take  into  consideration  these  facts:  Thousands  of  men  of 
all  ages,  from  fifteen  to  sixty,  are  engaged  every  day  in  such  occupations 
as  baggage  handling,  logging,  structural  iron  working,  stone  masonry, 
acrobatics,  and  the  like,  occupations  entailing  the  maximum  of  muscular 
effort  sustained  over  the  maximum  of  time.  Why,  please,  if  extra- 
ordinary muscular  effort  is  a  cause  and  a  sole  cause  of  hernia,  are  not  all 
or  nearly  all  of  these  men  victims  of  hernia?  If  the  'jar'  incident  to 
a  misstep  from  a  stairway  or  a  street  car  be  a  cause  and  a  sole  cause  of 
hernia,  why,  please,  are  not  all  high  jumpers  victims  of  hernia?  If 
lifting  one  trunk  or  one  stone  one  time  is  a  cause  and  a  sole  cause  of 
hernia,  why,  please,  are  not  all  baggage  handlers  and  all  stone  quarriers 
victims  of  hernia? 

BONES  BROKEN:  No  HERNIA 

"There  are  on  record  statistics  relating  to  the  violent  deaths  of  a 
great  many  aeronauts,  parachute  artists,  bridge  jumpers  and  the  like 
who,  when  examined,  after  falls  from  great  heights,  have  been  found 
to  have  sustained  fractures  of  every  bone  in  the  body,  and  not  in  one 
instance  has  one  of  them  sustained  a  hernia. 

"If  we  need  authorities  for  the  above  facts,  it  is  not  difficult  to  find 
them. 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES 


87 


Carrying  an  object  properly 


Raising  heavy  object — such  as  lifting 
from  floor  to  truck  or  shelf. 


88  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

ALWAYS  DEVELOPED  GRADUALLY 

"Herman  Tillmans,  University  of  Leipsic,  Text  Book  of  Surgery/ 
says: 

"Traumatic  hernia  is  not  true  hernia.  The  hernial  sac — that  is 
the  true  hernia — is  always  developed  gradually,  although  an  injury 
may,  of  course,  act  as  part  of  the  exciting  cause.  The  supposed  sudden 
development  is  always  dependent  upon  a  mistake  in  observation.  The 
hernial  sac,  as  a  rule,  is  always  present,  but  is  empty,  or  the  hernia 
already  present  at  the  time  of  injury  was  so  small  as  not  to  have  been 
noticed.  I,  therefore,  agree  with  Sociri  that  a  hernia,  from  medico- 
legal  point  of  view,  is  not  to  be  designated  exclusively  as  an  "injury." 


Muscles  benefited  by  exercises  outlined — raising  80-lb.  bell. 

The  herniae  supposed  to  have  arisen  "suddenly  in  consequence  of  an 
injury"  are  in  a  part  a  result  of  the  traumatism,  but  are  due  in  part  to 
a  special  condition  of  the  body  of  the  injured  person  which  already 
existed.5 

"Dr.  George  Sultan  of  Prussia,  'Hernia,'  American  Edition,  edited 
by  Dr.  George  Coley,  Professor  of  Surgery,  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  New  York,  says: 

"'In  the  critical  examination  of  a  casual  relation  between  hernia  and 
accidents  we  must  remember  first  of  all  that  a  hernia,  complete  in  all  its 
parts,  can  never  arise  at  the  moment  of  an  accident,  or  by  a  single  aug- 
mentation of  the  intra-abdominal  tension,  be  it  ever  so  great.  If  the 
hernia  first  appears  at  the  time  of  the  accident,  we  may  certainly  sup- 
pose that  the  hernial  sac  was  either  congenital  or  gradually  formed  in  the 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  89 

manner  already  described.  Although  it  must  be  unconditionally  ac- 
cepted that  a  hernia  making  its  appearance  at  the  time  of  the  injury 
has  never  completely  developed  at  that  moment,  a  casual  connection 
must  nevertheless  be  recognized,  since  a  preexisting  condition  Iras  been 
made  worse  by  the  accident  or  injury.' 

"Dr.  J.  Chalmers  De  Costa,  Professor  of  Surgery,  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  says: 

"A  sac  may  exist  for  years  and  yet  remain  empty.  When  bowel 
or  omentum  enters  it  from  some  strain  or  effort,  the  parts  were  long 
prepared  to  receive  the  extruded  mass.  This  extrusion  may  occur 
gradually;  it  may  occur  suddenly.  If  it  occurs  suddenly  the  sufferer 
believes  that  his  hernia  was  formed  then  and  there,  but  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  the  extrusion  of  bowel  or  omentum  and  its  entrance  into  the  sac  are 
but  the  last  of  a  long  series  of  antecedent  and  preparatory  changes. 
Finally,  a  hernia  appears,  and  usually  does  so  during  effort." 

"William  McAdams  Eccles,  'Hernia/  says: 

"'In  the  majority  of  cases,  a  hernia  is  of  gradual  and  slow  formation 
and  this  without  any  tearing  or  breaking  of  tissue,  such  as  is  clearly 
indicated  in  the  use  of  the  word  "rupture."  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
formation  of  the  sac  or  hernia  is  a  slow  process,  for  the  parietal  peri- 
toneum will  neither  stretch  nor  prolapse  sufficiently  to  produce  a  sac 
in  a  day  or  even  in  a  week  or  two;  in  fact  it  usually  takes  months  for 
the  sac  to  become  really  apparent.'" 

Rulings    of   the    Ohio   Accident   Board    on    Hernia.— 

Medical  science  teaches,  and  has  taught  for  the  past  twenty 
years,  that  which  is  now  accepted  as  a  medical  and  scien- 
tific fact,  being  corroborated  as  such  by  the  foremost 
surgeons  of  the  world,  i.e.,  that  hernia  (or  so-called  rupture) 
is  a  disease  which  ordinarily  develops  gradually,  being, 
very  rarely,  the  result  of  an  accident. 

For  the  purpose  of  treating  the  subject  of  hernia  in  a 
manner  just  to  both  the  employee  and  the  employer  and 
to  be  in  accordance  with  medical  facts,  the  Commission 
rules  the  following : 

RULE  I. — Real  traumatic  hernia,  namely,  that  produced  by  a  force 
great  enough,  that  when  directly  applied  to  the  abdominal  (or  belly) 
wall,  results  in  either  puncturing  or  tearing  the  wall  asunder,  full 
disability,  as  approved  by  the  Statute,  will  be  allowed. 

RULE  II. — All  other  hernias,  whenever  occurring  or  discovered  and 
whatsoever  the  cause,  except  as  under  Rule  I,  are  considered  to  be 
diseases  causing  incapacitating  conditions  or  permanent  partial  dis- 
ability and  the  causes  of  such  are  considered  to  be  as  shown  by  medical 


90  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

facts,  to  have  either  existed  from  birth,  to  have  been  of  years  in  for- 
mation and  duration,  or  both;  and  are  not  compensatable  except  as 
provided  under  Rule  III. 

RULE  III. — All  cases  coming  under  Rule  II,  in  which  it  can  be  con- 
clusively proven:  First:  That  the  immediate  cause  which  calls  atten- 
tion to  the  hernia  present,  was  such  as  a  sudden  effort,  severe  strain  or 
bruise.  Second:  That  the  descent  of  the  hernia  occurred  immediately 
following  the  cause.  Third:  That  the  cause  was  accompanied  or  im- 
mediately followed  by  severe  pain  in  the  hernial  region.  Fourth: 
That  the  above  facts  were  of  such  severity  that  the  same  were  noticed 
by  and  communicated  immediately  to  one  or  more  persons;  are  con- 
sidered to  be  aggravations  of  previous  ailments  or  diseases  and  will  be 
compensated  as  such  for  time  loss  only  and  to  a  limited  extent,  depend- 


Floor  exercises  to  strengthen  abdominal  muscles. 

ing  on  the  nature  of  the  proof  submitted  and  the  result  of  the  local 
medical  examination.  A  reasonable  amount  will  also  be  allowed  for  a 
properly  fitting  truss. 

Cases  coming  under  Rule  II  will  not  be  considered  to  be  entitled  to 
compensation  from  the  State  Insurance  Fund  for  amounts  to  pay  for 
permanent  partial  disabilities  or  for  special  medical  services  rendered, 
such  as  a  surgical  operation  and  hospital  attention;  otherwise,  the 
employer  would  be  paying  for  the  cure  of  a  permanent  partial  disability 
which  existed,  and  the  real  causes  of  which  existed,  prior  to  the  enactment 
of  the  Workmen's  Compensation  Act. 

The  Prevention  of  Strains  and  Ruptures. — An  article 
prepared  by  Mr.  F.  H.  Baker:  (Current  News). 

"It  is  not  our  purpose  to  go  into  medical  detail  regarding  this  subject; 
and  the  remedy  or  operation  for  hernia  must  be  left  with  the  surgeon. 
What  we  hope  and  aim  to  do  is  to  show  in  a  concise  way  the  causes  of 
hernia  and  how  it  can  be  prevented,  as  we  believe  in  the  old  maxim 
that,  'An  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure.' 

"There  are  different  types  of  hernia,  due  to  their  location  and  stages, 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  91 

i.e.  femoral  (thigh),  umbilical  (navel),  and  inguinal  (groin),  which 
determine  the  location,  whereas  strangulated  and  sliding  indicate  the 
condition  reached. 

"One  may  bring  on  hernia  by  severe  coughing,  crying,  straining  and 
lifting — lifting  heavy  objects  from  the  floor  is  the  most  common  way. 

"The  abdominal  walls  may  be  thin,  the  muscular  covering  not 
properly  developed,  and  upon  a  sudden  strain  from  any  of  the  causes 
just  mentioned,  hernia  might  result. 

"The  preventive,  then,  is  obvious.  Thicken  the  abdominal  walls 
by  developing  a  strong  muscular  covering  which  is  accomplished  only 
by  systematic  physical  exercise.  This  will  require  but  a  few  moments 
each  day,  before  retiring  at  night  and  just  after  rising  in  the  morning. 
The  exercises  will  develop  and  strengthen  the  abdomen  and  also  stimu- 
late the  activity  of  the  bowels,  thereby  eliminating  the  use  of  purgatives, 
which  in  time  leave  the  organs  in  a  weakened  condition. 

"Again,  in  lifting  an  object  from  the  floor  one  may  get  into  an  im- 
proper position  for  the  effort  which,  in  itself,  without  the  abdominal 
muscles  being  necessarily  weak,  would  be  sufficient  to  produce  a  hernia. 

"The  illustration,  page  85,  represents  the  right  way  of  lifting. 
First,  be  sure  that  the  feet  are  placed  well  apart  so  as  to  give  a  firm 
foundation  and  poise  of  body.  Also,  the  object  to  be  lifted  should  be 
as  nearly  as  possible  in  a  line  between  the  feet.  Now  squat  over  the 
object,  taking  firm  hold  of  it. 

"In  this  position  note  that  the  chest  should  be  well  out,  shoulders 
squared,  and  head  back.  The  line  of  the  back  should  be  straight  and 
nearly  vertical. 

"In  lifting,  power  is  received  from  legs,  thighs,  arms,  back,  chest  and 
abdomen.  The  entire  muscular  system  is  cooperating  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  object  is  lifted  from  the  floor  with  no  undue  strain  upon  any 
particular  muscular  group  or  part  of  the  body,  and  the  largest  groups  of 
muscles  as  well  as  the  smaller  are  properly  proportioned  to  the  load. 

"In  the  first  figure  is  shown  the  wrong  position  for  lifting.  (The 
average  man  brings  his  feet  closer  together  than  is  shown  in  the 
illustration.) 

"It  should  be  observed  that  the  feet  are  placed  too  far  in  back  of  the 
object.  This  necessitates  rounding  the  back  and  brings  the  entire 
strain  directly  upon  the  abdomen.  The  only  lifting  power  is  obtained 
through  the  forearms.  A  great  many  men,  when  finding  weight  too 
heavy,  or  slipping  from  their  grasp,  will  raise  one  leg  and  thigh  to  hold 
it  momentarily.  This  is  a  serious  mistake.  The  foundation  is  destroyed 
and  the  abdominal  muscles  are  thrown  into  a  strained  and  cramped 
position,  so  that  everything  is  now  favorable,  with  a  slight  wrench  or 
lifting  effort,  for  the  production  of  hernia. 

"Remember  always,  to  keep  the  abdomen  in  and  the  chest  out  in 


92  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


Ohio  Iron  and  Steel  Company,  Lowellville,  Ohio.     Interior  of  first  aid  room 


Cadillac  Motor  Company,  Detroit,  Mich.     Emergency  hospital  in  main 

plant. 


EXAMINATION  OF  EMPLOYEES  93 

any  position  for  lifting  or  pulling,  the  back  arched  in  and  the  feet  out 
and  one  can't  go  far  wrong. 

"The  third  and  fourth  figures  illustrate  the  position  which  should  be 
taken  in  lifting  an  object  from  the  floor  to  be  raised  to  shoulder  height, 
as  when  loading  on  a  truck  or  platform.  Note  the  poise  of  body,  the 
feet  placed  well  apart  for  a  good  foundation,  back  arched  and  chest  out. 
The  third  figure  also  illustrates  the  proper  position  for  carrying  weights 
short  distances.  (See  page  87.) 

"Physical  training,  in  its  best  sense,  is  not  the  cultivation  of  great, 
heavy  muscles,  but  the  culture  of  the  nervous  organism.  It  has  been 
well  said  that  great  muscular  power  is  not  always  a  fair  guarantee  of 
great  vitality.  It  is  not  necessary,  nor  desirable,  for  the  ordinary  man 
to  strive  to  be  a  Hercules  or  an  expert  gymnast,  as  it  is  not  required  in 
his  walk  of  life. 

"Our  purpose  is  to  lead  a  Christian,  virile  life,  a  profitable,  happy 
life,  to  possess  manhood  in  its  fullest  sense  and  to  develop  a  clean, 
wholesome,  vigorous  body.  We  aim  for  vitality,  physical  and  mental 
efficiency  through  the  development  of  organic  power,  and  we  wish  to 
impress  upon  every  one  the  social  and  moral  value  of  athletic  recreation 
and  the  habit  of  physical  exercise. 

"We  sincerely  hope  that  all  of  the  men  and  boys  who  read  this 
article  will  strive  for  the  same  purpose  and  aim  for  that  which  makes  for 
all-round  efficiency." 


CHAPTER  IV 
EMERGENCY  HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  AID  WORK 

Wonderful  progress  has  been  made  in  recent  years  by 
the  large  industries,  in  the  matter  of  installing  emergency 
hospitals  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and  injured,  and  in  the 
general  instruction  of  their  employees  in  first  aid  work. 
The  American  Red  Cross  has  conducted  many  classes 
throughout  this  country  in  first  aid  work.  Many  of  our 
large  railroads  maintain  first  aid  cars  which  go  from  place  to 
place  instructing  the  general  public  in  first  aid  work,  the  car 
usually  being  equipped  with  camp  chairs,  charts,  and  some- 
times arranged  for  moving-picture  work,  a  physician  being 
in  charge.  The  usual  practice  among  the  large  corpora- 
tions where  physicians  are  available  is  not  to  train  em- 
ployees in  other  than  the  simple  first  aid  work:  to  stop  bleed- 
ing, to  put  on  simple  bandages,  resuscitation  work,  care 
of  a  person  suffering  from  nervous  shock,  removing  simple 
particles  from  eyes,  and  care  of  nail  punctures.  Where 
physicians  and  surgeons  are  not  readily  available,  it  be- 
comes necessary  to  train  first  aid  men  in  the  handling  of 
fractures;  but  as  a  usual  thing  the  surgeon  would  prefer 
to  have  the  individual  placed  on  a  stretcher  or  in  an 
ambulance  and  brought  to  the  emergency  hospital  or  to 
his  office,  rather  than  have  a  half-trained  first  aid  man 
attempt  too  much,  necessitating  doing  the  work  over. 
In  the  case  of  putting  on  a  tourniquet  to  stop  excessive 
bleeding,  unless  the  greatest  care  is  used,  it  will  often  do 
more  harm  than  good.  Particular  care  should  be  taken 
in  placing  a  tourniquet  not  to  use  wire  or  anything  that 
will  cut.  The  Esmark  triangular  bandage,  with  something 
like  a  round  piece  of  stone,  wood,  etc.,  wrapped  up  in  the 
tail  of  the  bandage  and  used  to  apply  pressure,  gives  the 
best  results.  When  a  tourniquet  has  been  applied,  every 

94 


HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  AID  WORK  95 


Male  ward — Pittsfield  Works  Emergency  Hospital. 


Female  ward — Pittsfield  Works  Emergency  Hospital. 


96  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

fifteen  minutes  the  pressure  should  be  released,  so  as  to 
give  the  blood  a  chance  to  circulate,  and  then  pressure 
should  be  applied  again.  Great  care  should  also  be  taken 
not  to  injure  the  eye  while  removing  particles  from  it. 

The  equipment  of  emergency  hospitals  should  be  simple, 
the  attached  illustrations  showing  the  equipment  of  the 
emergency  hospital  of  the  Pittsfield  works  of  the  General 
Electric  Company,  giving  a  fair  idea  of  the  necessary 
equipment.  The  following  description  covering  the  opera- 
tion of  this  hospital,  detail  of  a  simple  first  aid  jar  and  a 
discussion  of  first  aid  in  cases  of  severe  illness  may  be  of 
interest. 

Emergency  Service. — The  emergency  service  for  the 
care  of  the  sick  and  injured  at  the  Pittsfield  works  has  been 
very  carefully  developed  over  a  period  of  several  years  and 
at  the  present  time  it  seems  to  be  quite  efficient.  The 
emergency  hospital,  centrally  located,  is  equipped  with 
two  rooms,  one  being  used  by  male  patients  and  the  other 
by  female  patients.  The  female  nurse  and  welfare  worker 
has  general  charge,  following  up  all  accidents,  re-dressings, 
and  sickness  in  a  thoroughly  systematic  manner.  An 
ambulance  is  in  readiness  for  service  at  any  liour  of  the 
day  or  night.  The  hospital  handles  only  emergency  work, 
as  the  works  have  relations  with  a  local  surgical  hospital 
where  all  cases  requiring  more  than  temporary  treatment 
are  cared  for.  Instructions  are  posted  at  convenient 
places  about  the  plant  covering  care  of  sickness  and  acci- 
dents, and  in  every  building  the  .  emergency  service  is 
supplemented  by  one  or  two  " first  aid  jars"  shown  in  the 
illustration.  These  jars  are  made  of  glass,  are  sanitary 
and  may  be  used  in  emergency  for  carrying  water.  They 
are  equipped  with  liquid  soap,  bichloride  solution,  aromatic 
spirits  of  ammonia,  adhesive,  boracic  acid  solution,  tincture 
of  iodine,  absorbent  cotton,  small  scissors,  drinking  glass, 
gauze  and  bandage.  When  a  person  is  cut  and  is  bleeding, 
the  contents  of  these  jars  are  to  be  used  to  bind  up  the 
wound  so  that  the  patient  can  come  to  the  emergency 
hospital. 


HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  AID  WORKS 


97 


There  are  two  types  of  jars  used,  one  for  the  factory  and 
one  for  the  home,  the  latter  of  which  is  described  later. 
In  all  cases  where  a  bandage  is  placed  to  bind  an  injury, 


Equipment  male  ward — Pittsfield  Works  Emergency  Hospital. 


Sanitary  method  of  making  a  bandage. 

the  individual  must  report  to  the  hospital,  where  the  wound 
is  re-dressed  in  a  thoroughly  sanitary  way.  In  this  manner 
it  is  possible  to  keep  down  cases  of  infection.  Out  of  a 


98 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


thousand  cases  that  may  be  treated  at  the  hospital  it  is 
seldom  that  one  case  of  infection  subsequently  develops. 
There  are  cases,  however,  in  which  an  individual  will 
remain  away  from  the  hospital  for  two  or  three  days, 
after  the  wound  has  occurred,  and  in  this  manner  an  oc- 
casional infected  case  comes  up.  It  requires  constant 
following  up  to  see  that  the  foremen  report  all  cases  as 


Automobile  ambulance — Pittsfield  Works  Emergency  Hospital. 

soon  as  they  occur.  Some  men  seem  to  have  a  dread  of 
going  to  a  hospital  of  any  kind,  but  it  is  found  that  by 
giving  safety  talks  among  these  men,  and  by  having  our 
female  nurse  participate  in  the  demonstration,  greater 
confidence  is  developed  on  the  part  of  the  men  and  there 
is  less  reluctance  on  their  part  to  go  to  the  hospital.  If 
at  any  time  an  accident  should  occur  when  our  emergency 
service  from  the  hospital  could  not  respond  promptly  enough, 


HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  AID  WORKS  99 

there  are  all  the  materials  in  the  first  aid  jars  in  the  various 
departments  to  make  good  sanitary  dressings.  The  first 
aid  jar  used  was  modeled  after  the  first  aid  jar  developed 
by  the  Norton  Emery  Wheel  Company,  except  that  our 
jar  is  a  little  larger. 

First  Aid  in  the  Home. — At  one  time  the  writer  had 
occasion  to  give  a  talk  on  "  First  Aid  for  Rural  Com- 
munities, "  to  a  large  gathering  of  teachers  from  different 
parts  of  the  South.  The  idea  was  to  get  together  a  first 
aid  jar,  which  would  not  exceed  in  price  65  cents,  which 
could  be  placed  in  the  country  schools,  where  instructions 
could  be  given  to  the  school  children  on  first  aid  methods, 
so  that  they  in  turn  would  install  similar  jars  in  their  own 
homes. 

With  this  idea  in  mind  the  first  aid  jar  about  to  be  de- 
scribed was  used  in  giving  simple  demonstrations  to  teachers 
from  about  1,000  different  communities  of  the  South. 

The  jar  shown  in  the  illustration  is  made  of  glass,  a  tobacco 
jar,  and  can  be  purchased  at  the  five-and-ten-cent  store  for 
10  cents.  The  idea  of  using  glass  is  twofold;  first,  it  is 
sanitary,  can  be  kept  clean,  and  the  contents  of  the  jar 
are  always  visible.  Secondly,  it  can  be  used  in  emergency 
to  carry  water,  the  contents  of  the  jar  being  readily 
removed. 

The  jar  should  contain  a  small  bottle  of  tincture  of 
iodine  which  can  be  bought  for  about  10  cents.  As  tinc- 
ture of  iodine  is  a  poison,  care  should  be  taken  to  see  that 
it  is  kept  away  from  the  reach  of  children.  There  is  prob- 
ably no  substance  which  has  done  so  much  in  recent  years 
to  reduce  infection  as  tincture  of  iodine.  In  many  of  our 
manufacturing  industries,  subsequent  infection  from  wounds 
has  been  reduced  well  over  95  per  cent,  since  first  aid  in- 
struction has  been  given  and  since  tincture  of  iodine  has 
been  used  freely. 

The  second  article  that  the  jar  should  contain  is  boracic 
acid.  Five  cents'  worth  of  boracic  acid  can  be  purchased 
in  a  drug  store,  one-half  a  teaspoonful  being  used  to  a  glass 
of  boiling  water.  It  is  necessary  to  have  thejwater  boil- 


100 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


ing  so  that  the  boracic  acid  will  dissolve.  A  10-cent  bottle 
of  aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia  should  likewise  be  included 
in  the  jar. 

The  jar  should  contain  a  few  toothpicks  and  a  small 


First  aid  jar  for  the  home. 


it 

*— —  •H 


Contents  Jof  first  aid  jar. 

bundle  of  absorbent  cotton.  It  should  also  contain  a  small 
pair  of  scissors,  which  can  also  be  purchased  for  10  cents. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  have  in  the  jar  the  tincture  of  green 
soap  used  in  the  larger  jars;  this  is  used  in  manufacturing 


HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  Aty  WORK  '-/  {,;  >/;/ 

industries  for  washing  wounds,  as  an  ordinary  beginner 
should  not  handle  a  wound  too  much.  A  wound  should 
simply  be  washed  in  warm  water  and  some  of  the  tincture 
of  iodine  dropped  into  the  wound.  Neither  is  the  bichloride 
solution  necessary.  It  should  contain  a  small  roll  of  ad- 
hesive, which  can  be  purchased  for  10  cents;  two  bandages, 
one  inch  and  one-half  inch,  which  can  be  purchased  for  a 
few  cents. 

The  welfare  nurse  at  the  Pittsfield  Works  has  found 
it  possible  to  put  the  entire  jar  together  as  shown  in  the 
illustration  for  65  cents.  We  sometimes  add  a  bottle  of 
spirits  of  camphor,  a  few  drops  of  which  in  sugar  forms  a 
good  preventive  for  colds. 

Cuts. — All  cuts  should  be  washed  with  a  little  warm 
water  and  dried  with  a  piece  of  absorbent  cotton.  In  the 
wound  should  then  be  placed  a  few  drops  of  tincture  of 
iodine.  The  wound  should  then  be  bandaged — not  too 
tightly — and  the  part  which  has  been  injured  should  be 
kept  out  of  water.  After  the  bandage  has  been  put  on  the 
wound,  it  can  be  held  in  place  by  a  few  strips  of  adhesive. 

Nail  Punctures. — As  nail  punctures  are  so  likely  to  have 
serious  results,  unless  properly  cared  for,  a  repetition  of  the 
method  of  treatment  is  not  amiss.  It  is  quite  important 
that  a  wound  from  nail  punctures  should  be  kept  open 
until  healed.  If  this  is  not  done  and  the  wound  is  at  all 
infected,  a  small  abscess  will  form  at  the  bottom  of  the 
wound,  which  is  likely  to  result  in  blood  poisoning.  Such 
a  wound  may  be  kept  open  in  a  very  simple  manner,  if  the 
wound  has  been  cleaned  as  previously  described  and  a  drop 
or  two  of  iodine  has  been  placed  on  the  surface  to  prevent 
all  possible  infection.  A  small  pad  wet  with  boracic  acid, 
known  as  a  compress,  should  then  be  placed  over  the  wound. 
A  small  piece  of  oiled  paper,  such  as  we  use  to  wrap  meats 
up  with,  and  which  likewise  can  be  purchased  in  the  five- 
and-ten-cent  store,  can  be  put  over  this  compress  before 
it  is  bandaged.  In  about  three  or  four  hours  a  new  com- 
press, freshly  immersed,  should  be  put  on  the  wound.  If 
the  wound  is  carefully  scrutinized  the  next  morning  it 


102 


GB®ANiZ~ATIGN  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


will  be  found  that  a  very  small  hole,  about  the  size  of  a 
pin  point,  is  all  that  will  be  left  of  the  nail  puncture;  but  if 
this  is  kept  moist  by  means  of  compresses,  allowing  the 
wound  to  heal  up  from  the  bottom,  within  a  few  days  the 
wound  will  be  entirely  cured,  without  serious  trouble. 

Particles  in  the  Eye. — Unless  one  is  thoroughly  experi- 
enced in  removing  particles  from  the  eye  it  should  not  be 
attempted.  There  are  times  when  one  will  see  workmen 
trying  to  remove  particles  with  a  jack-knife  or  some  other 
clumsy  instrument.  Many  eyes  have  been  lost  by  these 


Nurse  removing  particles  from  eye. 


Nurse  bandaging  hand. 


crude  attempts,  and  in  all  cases  where  an  article,  such  as  a 
cinder,  is  embedded  in  the  cornea  of  the  eye,  it  is  better  to 
have  a  specialist  remove  it.  Where  dust  or  dirt  is  loose, 
however,  and  is  on  the  eyeball,  it  can  usually  be  removed 
by  taking  a  swab  of  cotton  and  wrapping  it  around  the 
end  of  one  of  the  toothpicks  from  the  first  aid  jar,  mov- 
ing this  carefully  over  the  eye,  holding  the  eyelid  back  as 
shown  in  the  illustration.  Where  the  cinder  or  dirt  is 
located  under  the  eyelid,  it  is  necessary  to  place  something, 
such  as  the  prong  of  a  bone  hairpin,  on  the  eyelid,  and  turn 
the  lid  back  over  this. 


HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  AID  WORK 


103 


o 

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S 

o      ic 


1 


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104  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

Fainting. — When  a  person  feels  faint  or  when  it  is  neces- 
sary to  stimulate  the  heart  action,  first  lay  him  on  his  back 
with  his  head  low.  Then  give  a  half  teaspoonful  of  aro- 
matic spirits  of  ammonia  solution  in  a  half  glass  of  water ; 
also  place  the  individual  where  he  can  receive  fresh  air. 
Where  the  person  has  become  entirely  unconscious,  it  is 
desirable  to  saturate  a  small  piece  of  gauze  with  the  aro- 
matic spirits  of  ammonia,  and  apply  it  to  the  nose. 

Burns. — As  soon  as  a  burn  occurs  it  is  desirable  to  have 
the  wound  covered  immediately  with  some  kind  of  oil,  such 
as  carron  oil  (linseed  oil  and  lime  water)  or  borated 
vaseline.  Where  the  burn  pains  badly,  a  solution  of  bi- 
carbonate of  soda  applied  to  the  injured  part,  will  remove 
considerable  of  the  sting.  Extensive  burns  are  now  being 
treated  in  industry  by  having  the  patient  lie  on  a  sterile 
sheet  under  a  tented  cloth,  powdered  stereate  of  zinc  being 
dusted  over  the  burned  parts. 

Conclusion. — Some  of  the  materials  mentioned  in  the 
above  list  of  treatment  are  not  included  in  the  first  aid  jar. 

When  first  aid  treatment  is  necessary  in  a  home,  the 
articles  necessary  are  usually  missing,  which  shows  the 
necessity  of  having  some  of  these  things  assembled  in  the 
form  of  a  compact  first  aid  jar  indicated  in  the  illustration. 

First  Aid  in  Cases  of  Severe  Illness. — Serious  illness  is 
something  which  may  happen  as  a  result  of  an  accident, 
some  chronic  disorder,  general  debility,  or  nervous  shock. 
In  caring  for  anyone  in  a  critical  condition  there  are  a  few 
well-tried  rules  of  nursing  that  all  first  aid  men  should 
be  familiar  with. 

Treatment  of  Shock. — A  person  may  receive  what  we 
term  a  " shock"  from  many  causes.  When  in  this  state  a 
person's  condition  is  quite  serious.  The  circulation  be- 
comes poor,  the  hands  and  feet  become  cold,  the  pulse 
becomes  weak,  nausea  sets  in,  the  patient  becomes  either 
frightened  or  utterly  collapses.  A  shock  sometimes  comes 
from  such  a  simple  thing  as  a  minor  cut ;  other  times  it  may 
come  from  the  loss  of  a  quantity  of  blood.  In  any  case, 
prompt  action  is  necessary.  The  patient  should  be  laid  on 


HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  AID  WORK  105 

his  back,  in  bed  if  possible,  the  foot  of  the  bed  raised  so  as 
to  send  the  blood  from  the  lower  part  of  the  body  toward 
the  heart.  The  temperature  of  the  body  should  be  raised 
by  hot  water  bags  at  the  feet,  the  most  efficient  condition 
being  head  cool,  empty  stomach  and  intestines,  and  warm 
feet.  The  patient  should  be  constantly  massaged  (see 
details  later) .  It  will  be  found  by  proper  massage  that  the 
pulse  can  be  strengthened  considerably.  It  is  well  to  bear 
in  mind  that  when  a  patient  is  very  weak,  it  is  possible  to  give 
him  some  of  your  strength  through  proper  massaging.  Keep 
the  patient  quiet  by  all  means.  Visitors  should  not  be 
allowed  in  the  sick  room  under  any  consideration,  although 
this  statement  might  be  modified  by  having  someone  at  the 
bedside  whom  the  patient  cares  for,  who  can  talk  in  a  gentle 
tone,  but  who  will  not  engage  the  patient  in  conversation. 
It  takes  strength  to  talk.  Have  plenty  of  fresh  air  in  the 
room,  but  the  patient  must  be  kept  out  of  a  draught. 

Fresh  Air. — All  physicians  recommend  fresh  air  as  a  tonic, 
but  few  of  us  ever  realize,  except  after  some  critical  experi- 
ence, the  wonderful  curative  values  of  fresh  air.  If  it 
were  possible  for  us  to  live  continually  in  the  fresh  air,  not 
only  in  the  day  time  but  at  night,  sleeping  under  some  pro- 
tection but  still  so  that  the  fresh  air  could  be  breathed 
freely,  we  would  be  subject  to  a  very  small  percentage  of 
the  ills  that  we  are  now  prone  to.  Fresh  air  is  a  wonderful 
tonic  for  all  kinds  of  nervous  disorders  and  when  people 
who  are  seriously  ill  can  be  bundled  up  and  placed  in  the 
fresh  air  all  day  long,  and  at  night,  where  possible,  under  a 
sleeping  porch,  the  curative  effects  are  really  remarkable. 
In  cases  of  severe  illness  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind,  therefore, 
that  just  as  soon  as  possible  the  patient  should  be  moved 
into  the  fresh  air.  This  does  not  imply  walking  up  and 
down  stairs  and  performing  other  exercises  which  require 
energy,  but  providing  some  means  without  undue  exertion, 
of  placing  the  patient  in  the  open  air. 

Sleep. — It  is  vital,  in  all  cases  of  sickness,  that  a  patient 
should  sleep,  but  if  a  patient  does  not  sleep  it  is  necessary 
to  use  sleeping  powders  to  make  the  patient  sleep,  even 


106  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

though  their  after-effects  are  bad.  It  is  possible,  many 
times,  by  having  a  bedroom  dark  at  night,  by  keeping  the 
patient  free  from  pain  and  by  effectively  massaging  him, 
to  make  him  sleep.  Sometimes  it  is  necessary  to  massage 
him  for  three  or  four  hours  before  it  is  possible  to  get  him 
to  sleep. 

Rubbing. — All  first  aid  men  should  learn  how  to  give 
an  effective  massage.  The  principle  of  efficient  massaging 
is  easily  learned  after  one  or  two  illustrations.  The  hand, 


Accident  report  used  at  Pittsfield  Works. 

preferably  the  right  hand,  should  be  placed  on  the  body, 
sufficient  pressure  being  exerted  so  that  when  the  hand  is 
moved,  the  skin  will  tend  to  cling  to  the  hand.  Sometimes 
it  is  necessary  to  massage  lightly,  other  times  vigorously. 
The  pressure  should  not  be  so  great,  however,  as  to  irritate 
the  skin.  Massaging  should  be  done  in  a  clockwise  direc- 
tion on  the  upper  part  of  the  body  and  on  the  lower  part, 
the  massaging  should  be  done  from  the  feet  up,  bearing  in 
mind  in  all  cases,  that  the  blood  should  be  forced  toward 
the  heart.  The  motion  should  be  rhythmic  and  should 
be  slow.  Alcohol,  witch-hazel,  talcum  powder,  cocoa 
butter,  can  be  used  advantageously  under  the  hand. 


HOSPITALS  AND  FIRST  AID  WORK 


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108  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

Where  it  is  desirable  to  stimulate  the  heart  action  or  give 
strength,  alcohol  is  preferable.  Where  parts  rubbed  over 
are  tender,  the  massaging  should  be  light  and  talcum  powder 
may  be  used.  Where,  however,  one  is  desirous  of  produc- 
ing drowsiness,  cocoa  butter  seems  best  to  produce  the 
desired  effect.  Oftentimes  where  a  patient  is  nervous  and 
where  the  body  twitches,  prompt  massage  can  quiet  him. 

Diet. — When  a  person  is  first  taken  sick,  do  not  be  in  a 
hurry  to  give  nourishment,  and  also  do  not  give  any  more 
medicine  than  is  absolutely  necessary.  Hot  water  with  a 
little  listerine  in  it,  hot  water  with  lemon  juice,  are  good 
things  to  use  at  the  start.  If  the  patient  is  faint,  a  half 
teaspoonful  of  aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia  in  a  half  glass 
of  water  is  an  effective  stimulant  to  use.  After  the  first 
twenty-four  hours  a  liquid  diet  may  be  started.  This  will 
consist  largely  of  milk  shake,  broths  and  soups,  and  other 
foods  of  similar  character.  Pea  soup  is  excellent  to  use,  as 
this  contains  considerable  nourishment  and  does  not  pro- 
duce a  tendency  to  nausea  as  heavier  soups  sometimes  do. 
Where  a  liquid  diet  is  used,  the  patient  should  be  fed  about 
every  two  hours.  If  the  intestines  should  not  perform  their 
normal  function,  an  enema  may  be  given  to  clear  the  in- 
testines. Where  such  is  used,  a  salt  solution — a  table- 
spoonful  of  salt  to  a  quart  of  warm  water — will  not  only  per- 
form the  desired  result  but  will  also  act  as  a  stimulant  to 
the  heart.  After  the  first  few  days  the  diet  can  be  added 
to,  using  such  things  as  soft-boiled  eggs,  poached  eggs  on 
toast,  baked  potatoes,  milk  toast,  meat  juices,  and  food 
of  a  similar  nature. 

State  of  Mind. — The  state  of  mind  of  a  sick  person  has 
considerable  to  do  with  his  rapid  recovery.  If  he  can  be 
freed  from  worry,  be  made  comfortable,  kept  quiet,  made  to 
take  a  little  nourishment  and  can  succeed  in  getting  a  fair 
amount  of  sleep,  have  access  to  the  air  and  plenty  of  it, 
he  stands  a  very  strong  chance  of  recovery.  The  human 
body  has  wonderful  recuperative  qualities,  and  where 
nature  is  assisted  in  this  work,  no  matter  how  slightly,  the 
patient's  recovery  is  fairly  rapid  in  most  cases. 


CHAPTER  V 


RECORDS,  ANALYSIS,  RATIO  CURVES 

Magnitude  of  Accidents. — In  the  year  1911  in  the  United 
States,  13,625  lives  were  lost  through  industrial  accidents. 
These  deaths,  coupled  with  other  injuries  to  persons, 
represent  an  annual  waste,  according  to  conservative  esti- 
mates of  the  American  Red  Cross,  of  at  least  $250,000,000. 
This  large  sum  does  not  include  millions  paid  out  in 
accident  compensation,  surgical  care,  loss  of  wages,  nor 
the  subsequent  decrease  in  efficiency  of  the  injured. 
Some  industries,  notably  mining  operations,  exact  in  this 
country  a  heavy  toll  in  fatal  and  serious  accidents.  In 
the  tabulation  compiled  by  Albert  H.  Fay  for  metal  mines 
for  the  year  1912,  given  in  the  text,  it  will  be  noted  that 
for  every  1,000  employees  in  copper  mines,  there  is  a  yearly 
death  rate  from  accidents  of  4.62.  If  this  ratio  were  main- 
tained in  our  large  manufacturing  organizations,  a  factory 
employing  5,000  would  lose  yearly  23  people.  In  reality, 
where  such  a  manufacturing  organization  has  three  fatal 
accidents  a  year,  the  management  feels  that  it  is  a  bad 

INJURIES  AND  FATALITIES  IN  CERTAIN  GROUPS  OF  METAL  MINES  IN  THE 

UNITED  STATES 


£3 

<D  3 

1 

J 

J 

E 

OJ 

.s 

g 

1 

Ratio  of  fatal 
accidents  per 

tw   O 

s 

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•  M 

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O  « 

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3 

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Copper  mines 

51  776 

9-^q 

4  62 

1  807 

34  90 

11,830 

228  48 

3  79 

4.93 

Gold  and  miscellaneous  metal 

mines       

44,144 

176 

3  99 

613 

13.89 

3,180 

72.04 

2.26 

4.69 

Iron  mines  

45,746 

179 

3.76 

1,800 

39.35 

8,707190.33 

1.90 

5.07 

Lead  and  zinc  mines  

14,332 

54 

3.77 

147 

10.26 

1,849 

129.01 

1.70 

4.44 

Miscellaneous  metal  mines..  . 

13,201 

20 

1.52 

135 

10.23 

666 

50.45 

Accidents  by  states  

169,199 

661 

3.91 

4,502 

26.61 

26,232 

155.04 

2    .35 

4.74 

From  Technical  Paper  No.  61,  "Metal-mine  Accidents  in  the   United  States  During  the 
Calendar  year  1912,"  by  ALBERT  H.  FAY. 

109 


110 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


Date  191 

Note:-  Place  employee's  number  visiting  Emergency  Hospital  In 
Proper  Column. 


New  :   New  •   Old    : 

Foreman   :SubsequentrMed I eal  :MJnor  -Surgical:  Character  :  Remarks 

:  Dressing  :  Case  :Surgical  :   Case   :  of  New  : 

:  :  Case  :        :  Case  t 


Total 


Daily  hospital  record. 


RECORDS,  ANALYSIS,  RATIO  CURVES 


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112 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


record.  It  will  be  noted  from  Mr.  Fay's  paper,  that  the 
danger  underground  in  mining  is  much  greater  than  on  the 
surface.  In  foreign  countries  more  progress,  as  pointed  out 
by  Mr.  Fay,  has  been  made  in  the  reduction  of  mine  acci- 
dents, although  in  a  few  places  the  records  are  little  better 
than  in  this  country. 

It  is  possible  to  reduce  accidents,  as  is  shown  in  the  ex- 
perience of  many  industries  where  energetic  safety  work 
has  been  instituted. 


WEEKLY    4CCIQENT    REPORT 

F   BCHQfJiTS     7b    ToTAL   CMPt-Q 

fl£6  CeL 


Progress  in  accident  prevention  —  Pittsfield  Works,   General  Electric  Co. 

"Conservative  statistics  show  that  from  66  to  76  per  cent,  of  all 
accidents  are  avoidable." 

DR.  M.   J.   SHIELDS,   M.  R.    C.,  U.   S.  Army   Field   Repre- 
sentative, American  Red  Cross. 

"On  the  Northwestern  Railroad,  by  cooperation  of  the  trainmen, 
we  have  reduced  the  fatal  accidents  to  trainmen,  in  twenty  months, 
50  per  cent." 

R.  C.  RICHARDS,  Chairman  Central  Safety  Committee,  Chicago 
and  Northwestern  Railroad. 


RECORDS,  ANALYSIS,  RATIO  CURVES  113 

"We  can  see  the  possibilities  of  accident  prevention  when  we  note 
that  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  in  ten  months  decreased  the  serious 
injuries  of  its  33,242  employees  over  63  per  cent.,  by  the  installation  of 
safety  devices  and  instruction  of  workmen  in  exercising  due  caution. 
As  the  result  of  the  'safety  campaign'  the  United  States  Steel  Company 
has  reduced  serious  and  fatal  accidents  in  its  various  plants  by  43.2 
per  cent,  since  1906.  The  normal  monthly  payroll  is  200,000  employees. 
Each  year  2,300  men  escape  who  would  have  been  injured  under  the  previous 
conditions.  More  men  are  killed  by  falling  oif  ladders,  scaffolding,  etc., 
than  in  any  other  way." 

J.  KIKBY,  JR.,  President  National  Association  of  Manufacturers. 


"Of  the  seventy  employees  of  the  Northwestern  Company  killed  last 
year,  only  three  out  of  the  seventy  were  killed  in  derailments  and 
collisions  and  of  the  5,907  employees  that  were  injured  on  the  North- 
western Railroad  during  that  year,  only  158  of  them  were  injured  in 
collisions  or  derailments,  so  it  was  apparent  to  us  as  it  must  be  to  you, 
that  the  accidents  we  desire  to  avoid  are  the  little  accidents.  The  little 
things  that  happen  every  day  to  the  men  that  are  jumping  on  pilots  of 
engines,  to  the  men  that  are  stumbling  over  obstructions  that  they  may 
perhaps  have  left  there  when  they  pulled  a  drawbar  out  of  a  car  the 
night  before,  and  the  overhead  obstructions,  and  the  nails  projecting 
from  planks  and  boards  through  our  yards  and  shops,  and  the  one 
hundred  and  one  things  all  over  the  railroad;  and  these  were  the  kinds 
of  accidents  we  undertook  to  put  a  stop  to  in  the  first  place,  believing 
that  if  we  could  stop  the  men  getting  hurt  in  little  ways  and  gradually 
inculcate  in  them  the  spirit  of  thoughtfulness  or  carefulness  and  pull  out 
by  the  root  that  old  careless  habit  that  we  railroad  people  have  been 
forming  for  the  last  fifty  years,  we  could  put  an  end  to  the  accidents 
generally,  and  the  big  accidents  would  take  care  of  themselves.  And 
gradually  we  are  doing  this.  As  I  said  before,  we  have  the  best  body  of 
50,000  railroad  men  that  ever  drew  breath." 

R.  C.  Richards,  Chairman  Central  Safety  Committee,  Chicago 
and  Northwestern  Railroad. 


114  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

ACCIDENT  REPORT  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  PACIFIC  COMPANY 
American  Museum  of  Safety  Competition  for 

HARRIMAN    SAFETY   MEDAL 

Returns  for  the  Southern  Pacific  Company  R.  R.   (Pacific  System)  for 
year  ending  June  30,  1913 

ACCIDENTS    IN    TRAIN    SERVICE 

Total  Locomotive  Miles  Run,  47,153,760 


Number 

Number  per  million 
locomotive  miles 
run 

Killed 

Injured 

Killed 

Injured 

Casualties  in  train  accidents: 
Passengers.                       .  .        .    . 

25 

87 

0.53 
•1.85 

Employees 

8 

0.161 

Other  persons  (not  trespassing)  

Total  

8 

112 

0.161 

2.38 

Casualties  in  other  than  train  accidents 
(excluding  industrial  accidents)  : 
Passengers.                 

7 
40 
29 

83 
622 
175 

0.148 
0.848 
0.615 

1.76 
13.19 
3.71 

Employees 

Other  persons  (not  trespassing)  

Total  

76 

880 

1.611 

18.66 

INDUSTRIAL    ACCIDENTS 

(Not  involving  movement  of  engines  or  cars) 
Total  Number  of   "Industrial"   Employees,  30,692 


- 

Number 

Number  per  1,000 
employees 

Killed 

Injured 

Killed 

Injured 

Total  casualties  to  employees  

15 

1,935 

0.49 

63.05 

RECORDS,  ANALYSIS,  RATIO  CURVES  115 

From  these  statistics  it  will  be  seen  that  the  loss  of  life 
from  industrial  accidents  in  the  United  States  is  very  heavy. 
It  will  also  be  noted  in  such  places  where  safety  measures 
have  been  actively  introduced  that  considerable  progress 
has  been  made  toward  their  reduction. 

Records,  Analysis,  Ratio  Curves.  —  In  instituting  any 
accident  prevention  campaign  or  any  system  of  first  aid 


Report  •  PitlsfitM  Works 


Oi    Rcddenf-*    to 
d  o<}  Monthly 
De/>ar/fnf"fal 


Method  of  showing  relative  departmental  standings  in  safety. 

to  the  injured,  it  is  important  to  have  a  proper  system  of 
records  and  instructions.  These  records  should  give  a 
history  of  each  individual  accident  case,  including  the 
name,  clock  number,  foreman,  character  of  injury,  prob- 
able duration  of  hurt,  extent  of  area  affected,  age.  Subse- 
quent records  should  give  the  cost  of  the  injury,  how  the 
accident  occurred,  whether  the  injury  was  due  to  careless- 
ness, act  of  fellow-workmen,  or  absence  of  safeguard. 
Emergency  hospital  records  in  use  at  the  Pittsfield  works 
of  the  General  Electric  Company  are  shown  in  the  text. 
One  figure  gives  the  individual  detail  on  what  might  be 


116 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


termed  major  accidents,  or  those  involving  a  loss  in  time 
of  five  hours  or  more.  Another  shows  a  daily  record,  in- 
cluding every  case  which  comes  to  the  hospital.  Besides 
the  individual  records  and  daily  records,  weekly  summary 


•/4c  c  i  dent   Reports 

Cu^res  shQw/ny  -Rvtrq  of- 
of  -tcc'dents    to  A*a  'of 
Mate   Pot  ic  for    -fwr  vther-  £»ejt>ts 


Genera/    E/ectnc    Co 


Method  used  to  indicate  departments  not  up  to  standard  in  safety  work. 


Showing^average  monthly  records  of  accidents — Pittsfield  Works. 

records,  shown  in  text,  may  be  prepared  showing  the  dis- 
tribution of  sickness,  major  or  minor  accidents,  welfare 
trips.  Each  month  the  accident  ratios  for  individual 


RECORDS,  ANALYSIS,  RATIO  CURVES  117 


191... 

Mr Building 

Please  forward  to  Employment  Bureau  report  of  accident 

Check  No 7.  ~  ~  . . . 

Age Married  or  single No.  Children 

Dependent  adults Result  of  injury 


Injury  to  bones Area  of  burnt  epidermis 

Injury  to  tendons Time  of  dressing  at  hospital 

Injury  to  eyesight Where  taken  after  first  treatment 

Injury  to  hearing 

Loss  of  any  part  of  injured  member 

Probable  period  of  disablement 


Welfare  Nurse. 


Individual  accident  report — Pittsfield  Works. 

departments,  as  shown,  may  be  computed,  indicating  a 
relative  safety  standing  of  the  different  departments. 
These  records  may  be  distributed  to  the  different  foremen 
and  also  posted  on  bulletin  boards  or  published  in  a  works' 
employees'  paper.  The  number  of  accidents  per  week 
or  per  month  over  the  number  of  employees  forms  the 
ratios.  Where  an  average  accident  curve,  for  the  whole 
plant,  is  being  prepared  it  is  desirable  to  compute  the  ratios 
weekly,  but  where  departmental  comparisons  are,  being 
made,  a  monthly  ratio  is  better.  The  departmental  curves 
will  show  the  relative  standing  of  the  various  departments 
and  will  usually  indicate  new  fields  of  endeavor.  Usually 
one  will  form  very  definite  opinions  as  to  where  the  greatest 
number  of  accidents  should  occur  and  where  the  greatest 
effort  should  be  concentrated ;  and  it  becomes  quite  a  reve- 
lation when  one  finds  some  department,  such  as  the  shipping 
department  as  shown  in  curve,  with  a  greater  ratio  than  the 
foundry.  It  is  also  important  with  the  daily  emergency 
hospital  charts  shown,  to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  every 
case,  no  matter  how  minor,  which  enters  the  hospital. 
Occasionally  where  an  employee  has  taken  out  individual 


118 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


Report  for  Individual  Accidents,  Involving  Lost  Time,  Major  Accidents 

MONTHLY  ACCIDENT  RATIOS 
Pittsfield    Works,  General    Electric    Company 


Department 

3  months, 
per  cent, 
acci- 
dents 

Per 
cent, 
acci- 
dents, 
Janu- 
ary 

Per 
cent, 
acci- 
dents, 
Feb- 
ruary 

March 

Per 
cent. 

Aver- 
age 
num- 
ber em- 
ployed 

Num- 
ber 
acci- 
dents 

Regulator  Assembly         ...                ... 

0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.25 
0.36 
0.38 
0.41 
0.45 
0.46 
0.51 
0.70 
0.74 
0.75 
0.78 
0.80 
0.87 
0.94 
0.98 
1.01 
1.30 
1.65 
1.89 
1.97 
2.35 

0.12 

0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.31 
0.53 
0.0 
0.61 
0.0 
1.00 
0.48 
0.0 
0.71 
0.78 
0.0 
2.30 
2.60 
0.92 
0.70 
0.0 
0.0 
1.70 
3.70 
5.90 
9.0 

0.37 

0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.31 
0.54 
0.60 
0.61 
0.90 
0.38 
0.56 
1.00 
1.16 
0.78 
1  .  35 
0.0 
0.0 
0.93 
1.46 
0.0 
1.95 
3.24 
0.0 
0.0 
3.60 

0.0 

69 
47 
49 
29 
724 
190 
186 
169 
228 
266 
208 
92 
275 
293 
200 
45 
75 
314 
130 
33 
'51 
165 
152 
35 
29 

802 

0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
1 
0 
1 
0 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
0.0 
0.0 
3 
1 
1 
1 
0 
3 
0 
1 

0 

0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.14 
0.0 
0.54 
0.0 
0.44 
0.0 
0.48 
1.09 
0.36 
0.68 
1.00 
0.0 
0.0 
0.96 
0.77 
3.04 
1.95 
0.0 
1.98 
0.0 
3.45 

0.0 

Moulded  Insulation  
Apprentice  
Boiler  and  Blacksmith  
Motor  

Tool  Room  and  Design  

Punch  Press 

Machine  Shop 

Order,  Stores,  Receiving  and  Truck 

Large  Transformer   .    . 

Building  and  Maintenance  
Carpenter  and  Pattern  
Small  Transformer  
Heating  Device  

Lightning  Arrester  

Power,  Heat  and  Light 

Screw  Machine 

Foundry  

Testing  

Tank  Welding  
Wire  Covering  

Shipping  and  Boxing  

Equipment  and  Maintenance  

Laboratory.        . 

Watchmen  and  Gatemen 

Miscellaneous,  includes: 
Engineering,    Drafting,     Factory     Foremen, 
Office  Payroll  Clerks  and  Stenographers. 

Total  averages 

January 

February 

March 

Total  employees.  . 

4,895 

4,743 

4,856 

Total  accidents  

33 

32 

20 

Per  cent,  accidents  to  total  employees 

0.675 

0.675 

0.412 

Monthly  Accident   Comparisons 

casualty  insurance,  claims  will  be  made  as  a  result  of  minor 
accidents,  and  proper  records  facilitate  locating  the  data 
relative  to  the  injury.  In  the  State  of  Massachusetts  it  is 
necessary  to  report  to  the  State  Industrial  Accident  Board 
all  accidents  which  involve  a  loss  of  over  five  hours  in  time. 


RECORDS,  ANALYSIS,  RATIO  CURVES 


119 


Some  companies  in  Massachusetts  go  farther  than  this  in 
reporting  all  cases  of  electrical  shock,  all  cases  in  which 
there  is  a  possibility  of  infection  and  all  cases  in  which  it 
is  necessary  to  seek  aid  outside  of  the  emergency  service, 
whether  or  not  a  loss  of  five  hours  is  incurred. 

Importance  of  Minor  Accidents. — All  accidents  reported 
to  the  State  may  be  termed  major  accidents  and  all  acci- 


Visiting  nurse — U.  S.  Steel  Corp. 

dents  not  reported  may  be  termed  minor  accidents.  The 
laws  in  different  States  vary  somewhat  regarding  the 
reporting  of  accidents.  Under  minor  accidents  would  be 
included  cases  with  particles  of  dust  in  the  eyes  which  are 
quickly  removed,  the  individual  returning  to  work;  cases 
where  a  small  cut  or  a  small  scratch  occurs,  the  patient 
coming  to  the  hospital  to  have  the  cut  treated,  bandaged, 


120 


ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 


returning  to  work,  the  cut  being  healed  in  a  few  days.     It 
is  important  to  insist  on  all  cases,  no  matter  how  minor, 


5- 


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«,  \ 

/   \ 


\  .tf64H0r.AMJ 

/6o     j?  /  \-« ^ /vkwts£/f  orrfCciaEJvrs. 

S  /  \  \  ACCO/7DW6  ±0  /)&£ 

i  \      \ 

$  j  \  \  Ci//fHfS4>L3 

S20      ^ 

! 


Liability  of  accident  with  reference  to  age — General   Electric   Company, 

Pittsfield  Works. 

coming  to  the  hospital  or  dispensary  for  examination,  for 
record,    and   for   re-dressing.     Where   first   aid   jars    and 


/<?.. 


Liability  in  Germany  —  Schwedtman  and  Emery. 


emergency  cabinets  are  used  there  is  a  natural  tendency 
to  disregard  this  rule  and  it  is  only  by  strict  discipline  that 
this  rule  can  be  enforced.  Nail  punctures  in  particular  are 


RECORDS,  ANALYSIS,  RATIO  CURVES 


121 


quite  likely  to  form  septic  wounds  if  not  properly  cared  for; 
see  Chapter  IV  for  detailed  treatment.  Out  of  thousands 
of  cases  treated  at  the  emergency  hospital  at  Pittsfield, 
it  is  seldom  that  wounds  subsequently  become  seriously 
infected.  On  the  other  hand,  there  occur  many  cases  of 
infected  wounds  among  those  who  neglect  to  come  to  the 
hospital  for  immediate  treatment.  The  following  data 
given  by  Dr.  William  O'Neil  Sherman  of  the  Carnegie 
Steel  Works  show  what  has  been  done  to  reduce  infection  by 
prompt  reporting  of  cases. 

"To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  value  of  first  aid  properly  administered, 
I  will  say  that  during  the  past  three  years  we  have  been  able  to  reduce 
the  number  of  infected  cases  from  5.75  per  cent,  to  0.01  per  cent,  or 
slightly  over  1  in  1,000  cases.  The  infected  cases  take  three  and  one- 
half  times  as  long  to  recover  as  the  non-infected  cases.  The  number  of 
amputations  and  incisions  and  stiff  joints  resulting  from  infected  cases 
is  very  great,  while  in  the  non-infected  cases  it  is  reduced  to  a  minimum. 


Time  of  day  accidents  occur. 

The  economic  gain  must  be  apparent  to  everyone  when  the  loss  of  time, 
expense  of  treating  the  cases,  together  with  the  resulting  permanent 
disability,  are  taken  into  consideration.  The  primary  object  of  first 
aid  is  to  furnish  an  aseptic  or  clean  dressing  that  will  prevent  infection 
of  the  wound.  Its  further  activities  are  to  supervise  the  removal  of  the 
injured  to  the  home  or  hospital,  and  to  render  appropriate  assistance 
in  cases  of  shock,  heat  exhaustion,  gas  poisoning,  freezing,  etc. 

"A  perusal  of  reports  reveals  the  fact  that  8,000  foreign  bodies  have 
been  removed  from  the  eyes  by  doctors  and  nurses  of  the  company 
without  one  complication  resulting  to  an  employee.  The  old-time 
practice  of  unskilled  fellow-employees  removing  cinders  and  particles 
of  steel  from  the  eye  should  be  strongly  condemned,  as  it  is  frequently 
followed  by  serious  complications — even  to  the  loss  of  sight. 


122  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

"Welfare  or  social  service  nursing:  The  result  of  this  experiment  has 
been  productive  of  so  much  good  that  in  a  short  time  we  hope  to  have 
one  or  more  of  these  workers  in  all  the  large  plants.  There  is  no  one 
who  can  do  so  much  real  good  and  who  is  in  closer  touch  with  the  real 
needs  and  wants  of  the  people  than  the  trained  welfare  nurse." 


CHAPTER  VI 

ACCIDENT  RELATIONSHIPS 

General. — Labor  turnover,  age  of  employees,  the  time 
of  day,  form  of  industry,  diversity  of  population,  seasons, 
character  of  work,  fatigue,  production,  bad  lighting,  weather 
conditions,  worry,  environment,  all  have  a  bearing  on 
accidents.  With  the  accident  data  available  at  present,  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  form  an  accurate  measure  of  the 
effect  of  these  variables  on  accidents.  The  following  com- 
ments are  simply  the  writer's  observations  after  several 
years'  study  of  this  matter,  covering  many  thousand  major 
and  minor  accidents.  These  data  should  not  be  taken  as 
conclusive  but  should  simply  be  used  as  suggestive. 

Diversity  of  Population. — There  prevails  a  general  im- 
pression that  the  greatest  tendency  to  accidents  in  any 
company  is  found  in  those  departments  made  up  largely 
of  foreign  help.  This  has  not  been  the  writer's  experience. 
Where  the  subject  has  been  investigated  and  an  attempt 
made  to  train  foreigners  in  safety  work,  it  will  be  found  that 
they  learn  quickly,  are  responsive,  are  accustomed  to  obey- 
ing orders,  are  careful,  are  interested  and  give  excellent 
cooperation  when  they  know  of  the  dangers  and  how  to 
avoid  them.  The  difficulty,  however,  with  foreign  labor 
is  that  this  class  of  labor  is  continually  shifting;  and  when 
as  an  example,  in  a  period  of  three  months,  600  foundry 
employees  have  been  completely  trained  in  safety  methods, 
the  work  will  have  to  be  repeated  during  the  following  year 
due  to  the  shifting  of  this  labor. 

In  a  country  like  Germany  with  its  military  discipline, 
the  natural  interest  in  educational  work  which  its  people 
possess,  the  extensive  safeguarding  and  study  of  improved 
sanitary  conditions,  which  is  going  on  continually,  the 
steady  temperament  of  the  people,  the  system  with  which 

123 


124  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

detail  operations  are  carried  on,  and  in  the  fact  that  in  any 
given  community  the  people  are  of  the  same  nationality, 
we  find  accident  prevention  at  its  best.  On  the  other  hand, 
in  America,  in  industries  where  many  types  of  nationalities 
are  represented,  the  problem  becomes  one  of  using  inter- 
preters, demonstrations,  and  moving  pictures,  to  educate 
these  people  in  safety;  but  devoting  in  addition,  through 
schools,  playgrounds,  Boy  Scout  movements,  a  large  share 
of  time  to  training  Young  America  in  safety  first  methods. 
The  following  editorial  from  the  Pittsfield  Daily  Eagle 
commenting  on  a  series  of  lectures  on  first  aid  given  in  the 
Pittsfield  schools,  discusses  this  feature  in  an  interesting 
way. 

"Mr.  —  —has  the  right  idea,  slow  as  many  of  us  are  to  perceive 
it.  In  education  he  believes  in  beginning  at  the  bottom  and  working 
up.  In  our  mental  attic  somewhere  is  a  saying  that  if  you  train  the 
child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  in  after  years  he  will  not  depart  from  it. 
The  time  to  .teach  the  boy  safety  is  when  he  is  young.  The  trouble  is, 
he  seldom  hears  much  about  it  until  he  has  reached  what  we  call,  by 
custom,  the  age  of  discretion.  Humans  are  the  most  careless  beings 
alive.  They  never  look  where  they  are  going.  It  is  necessary  to  have 
a  sign  at  every  manhole  and  to  maintain  a  policeman  in  front  of  every 
plate-glass  window.  Manufacturers  have  to  spend  fortunes  for  safety. 
Men  not  only  are  temporarily  indifferent — they  actually  vote  to  maintain 
some  of  the  greatest  elements  of  danger  the  world  has  ever  seen!  They 
do  not  seem  to  flee  from  danger.  They  court  it  and  clasp  it  to  their 
hearts  and  fondle  it.  Mr.  —  —  aims  to  'open  the  eyes  of  the  blind 
and  also  to  broaden  the  gaze  of  those  who  already  see.'  His  lectures 
will  do  great  good." 

Age  of  Employee. — Here  again  we  find  in  the  matter  of 
the  age  of  the  employee  a  decided  difference  between  con- 
ditions in  this  country  and  abroad.  The  lower  curve  on 
page  120  shows  conditions  among  German  industrial 
works,  emphasizing  the  fact  that  abroad,  the  greatest 
tendency  to  accidents  exists  when  employees  are  between 
the  ages  of  fifty  and  sixty  years.  Contrast  this  curve  with 
the  upper  one  shown,  covering  conditions  in  a  factory  in 
America  employing  5,000  employees,  and  it  will  be  noticed 
that  the  tendency  to  accidents  of  young  men  from  twenty- 


ACCIDENT  RELATIONSHIPS 


125 


two  to  twenty-six  is  as  great  as  the  tendency  at  fifty  years. 
The  best  safety  habits  are  found  among  workers  approxi- 
mately thirty-seven  years  of  age. 

Time  Accidents  Occur. — The  tabulation  on  page  121  in- 
dicates the  time  of  day  that  accidents  occurred  most  fre- 
quently. It  will  be  noticed  that  from  nine  to  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  tendency  is  greatest.  In  a  set  of  curves, 
compiled  by  Schwedtman  and  Emery,  covering  German 
conditions,  it  was  indicated  that  from  nine  to  twelve  in  the 


tye  Employees   f>tr  Month 
•   /f/6 


Joco 


JOOO 


/ffcr;  _  / 


Showing  effects  of  labor  turnover  on  accidents. 

morning  and  from  three  to  six  in  the  afternoon,  the  tend- 
ency is  greatest.  This  curve  indicates  that  when  a  man 
comes  to  work  in  the  morning  it  takes  a  little  while  for  him 
to  reach  his  maximum  efficiency  and  when  he  is  working 
at  his  maximum  output,  his  tendency  to  get  injured  is 
greatest.  Our  experience  at  Pittsfield  has  also  shown Jthat 
in  the  early  morning  from  five  to  six  o'clock,  when  a  man 
has  been  working  all  night,  his  bodily  fatigue  is  great  and 
he  is  extremely  prone  to  accidents.  Regarding  the  day 


126  ORGANIZATION  IN  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION 

of  the  week,  Monday  seems  to  be  the  worst  day  in  America, 
probably  due  to  the  tendency  of  most  Americans  to 
overeat,  to  oversleep,  and  generally  to  break  all  regular 
habits  on  Sunday.  Abroad,  Monday  and  Saturday  seem 
to  be  the  worst  days. 

Labor  Turnover. — Labor  turnover  has  an  important 
bearing  on  accident  prevention.  Where  many  new  em- 
ployees are  hired,  the  problem  of  quickly  training  these 
men  in  safety  work  is  difficult.  Some  companies  give  rule 
books  to  new  employees  and  insist  on  their  studying  them. 
In  other  places,  foremen  make  a  point  of  having  someone 
instruct  all  new  employees  in  safety.  We  have  found  the 
latter  half  of  the  noon  hour  a  good  time  to  go  into  the 
departments  and  talk  to  the  men.  Charts,  diagrams, 
exhibits,  first  aid  demonstrations  may  be  used  in  this 
manner.  Where  good  lecture-room  facilities  are  available, 
lantern  slides  and  moving  pictures  may  be  used  during  the 
noon  hour.  The  best  way,  however,  is  to  make  a  study  of 
labor  turnover  and  use  every  means  possible  to  reduce  it. 
As  it  costs  about  $35  to  hire  a  new  employee,  in  addition 
to  training  him  in  safety  work  it  is  well  worth  while  to  make 
a  continuous  study  of  labor  conditions  and  fit  employees  to 
their  proper  tasks.  Some  companies  who  have  made  a 
careful  study  of  labor  turnover  problems  have  obtained 
unusually  good  results. 

Good  Health. — Some  companies,  such  as  the  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  realize  the  bearing,  of  good  health  in 
reducing  accidents.  This  company  issues  some  very 
cleverly  illustrated  booklets  to  its  employees  on  right  living. 
The  Norton  Emery  Wheel  Company  through  Dr.  Irving 
Clark  has  also  published  some  interesting  material.  The 
National  Cash  Register  Company,  the  Sears,  Roebuck 
Company,  the  International  Harvester  Company,  give 
special  assistance  in  dental  work  and  in  providing  at  cost 
glasses  to  correct  vision.  The  work  of  the  Mutual  Benefit 
Associations  in  relieving  employees  from  worry  in  case  of 
sickness,  and  in  detecting  cases  of  tuberculosis  in  its  early 
stages,  has  also  its  bearing  on  accident  prevention.  Ex- 


ACCIDENT  RELATIONSHIPS  127 

tensive  investigation  carried  on  by  Dr.  Louis  I.  Dublin, 
statistician  of  the  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Company, 
indicates  that  splendid  progress  has  been  made  in  the 
reduction  of  diseases  of  children  and  in  contagious  diseases, 
but  that  the  degenerative  diseases  of  middle  life  are  on 
the  increase.  In  three  years  from  1911  to  1914  the  in- 
fectious diseases  of  children,  such  as  measles,  scarlet  fever, 
whooping  cough  and  diphtheria,  were  decreased  18.2  per 
cent. ;  tuberculosis,  all  forms,  for  the  same  period  showed  a 
reduction  of  9.8  per  cent.,  and  typhoid  fever  also  declined 
26.3  per  cent.  On  the  other  hand,  there  has  been  a 
heavy  increase  in  mortality  at  the  advanced  ages  from 
such  diseases  as  cancer,  diabetes,  apoplexy,  organic  heart 
disease,  diseases  of  the  arteries,  cirrhosis  of  the  liver  and 
Bright 's  disease.  Quoting  Dr.  Dublin,  at  the  age  of  forty 
and  over,  together  they  form  51.2  per  cent,  of  all  deaths. 
From  1900  to  1910  diseases  of  the  arteries,  for  instance,  have 
increased  396.2  per  cent.  It  is  evident  that  there  is 
need  for  extensive  education  in  ways  of  right  living  for 
employees  of  middle  life.  Good  health  plays  an  important 
part  in  accident  prevention  and  education  in  health  work 
may  well  supplement  education  in  safety  work. 


INDEX 


Accident  charts,  116 

departmental  ratios,  115,  118 

statistics,  109 

Age,  relation  to  accidents,  120 
Ambulance,  automobile,  98 

Pickands,  Mather  &  Co.,  10 
American  Red  Cross  Car,  6 
Arc-welder's  helmet,  45 

B 

Bonus  vs.  discipline,  2 
Burned  feet  in  foundry,  46 
Burns,  treatment  of,  104 


C 


Carnegie,  fellowship  method,  14 
Corner  braces  for  boxes,  54 
Crane  accidents,f56 

hitcher's,  59 

rules,  62 

stops,  63 
Cuts,  treatment  of,  101 


D 


Daily  record  of  accidents,  117 
Danger,  low  voltage  circuits,  35 

signs,  Oliver  Iron  Mining  Co. 

12 

Dangerous  tools,  58 
Defectives,  care  of,  78 
Department  of  Safety,  9 
Diet,  regulation  of,  108 
Discipline,  22 

vs.  bonus,  2 

enforcement  of,  9 
Draftsmen   instructions  to,  8 


E 


Education  in  safety,  18 


Efficiency  of  educational  work,  4 
Emergency  hospitals,  94 

Cadillac  Motor  Co.,  92 

service,  Pittsfield  Works,  96 
Examination,  Commonwealth   Steel 
Co.,  75 

medical,  73 

Expense,  distribution  of,  2 
Eyes,  poster  for,  47 

removal  of  particles,  102 


Failure  of  safety  devices,  4 
Fainting,  treatment  for-  104 
Fatality  statistics  in  mining,  103 
Falls  from  scaffolding,  56 
Fellowship,  8 
Fire  drill  rules,  70 

lids,  69 

prevention,  65 

proof  buildings,  68 

streams  foundry,  66 
First  aid,  American  Rolling  Mill  Co., 
17 

crews,  19 

Ellsworth  Colliers  Co.,  23 

in  home,  99 

jars,  100 

room,  Kingston  Coal  Co.,  74 
Ohio  Iron  and  Steel  Co.,  92 
Flasks,  blocking  of,  51 
Floors  free  from  nails,  52 
Flying  objects,  56 
Foreigners  trained  in  safety,  20 
Foremen,  importance  of,  26 
Foundry,  use  of  small  ladle,  48 

burned  feet,  46 
Fresh  air,  value  of,  105 


G 


Gasoline,  64 
Goggles,  43 


129 


130 


INDEX 


H 

Habits,  1 

Hair,  clothes,  protection  of,  44 
Hammers,  special  construction  of,  51 
Health,  relation  to  accidents,  126 

statistics,  Dr.  Dublin,  127 
Hernia,  85 

Dr.  Keller,  86 

Dr.  Lauffer,  86 

exercise  against,  87 
Hospital  charts,  107 

records,  110 


Labor  turnover  vs.  accidents,  125 
Lectures  on  safety,  21 
Lupke,  Paul,  on  safety,  5 

M 

Medical  examination  chart,  72 
Minor  accidents,  111,  119 
Mine  rescue  crew,  13 
Muscles,  development  of,  88 
Mushroom  heads  in  tools,  56 

N 

Nails,  accidents  from,  48 
punctures,  101 

treatment  of,  52 
removing  as  danger,  53 


Oils,  varnishes,  fire  protection,  67 


Progress  in  reduction  of  accidents,  2, 

112 

Prone  pressure  method  of  resuscita- 
tion, 27 

demonstration  for  girls,  3 
location  of  floating  ribs,  29 
procedure,  34 
Punch  press  accidents,  52 
feeding  of,  55 


11 


Resuscitation  recommendations,  39 

Ropes,  safe  loads,  60 

Rubbing,  106 

Rulings,  Ohio  accident  board,  89 


S 


Sanitary  bandages,  97 
Shock,  treatment  of,  104 
Shoes,  moulders,  50 

poster  for,  49 
Signs  at  gate,  National  Tube  Co.,  15 

Youngstown    Sheet    and    Tube 

Co.,  15 

Skimmer  for  foundry,  50 
Sleep,  importance  of,  105 
Stretcher,  Pickands  Mather  &  Co., 

11 
System  in  safety  work,  18 


Time,  relation  to  accidents,  125 
Tuberculosis,  79 

camp,  80 

lectures,  19 

prevalency  of,  in  Chicago,  83 

treatment  of,  81 


Physical  examination  of  employees, 

71 

International  Harvester  Co.,  82 
Sears,  Roebuck  Co.,  75 
Pliers  for  punch  press  use,  57 
Population,  relation  to  accidents,  123 
Prevention  of  strains  and  ruptures, 

90 
Prize,  safety,  7 


Voltage  relations,  two-phase  circuits, 
37 

W 

Wiring  rules,  40 

Wisconsin  Industrial  commission  re- 
port, 61 
Wood  alcohol,  64 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 
Fin< 


OCT  29  is 


24Mar'50l6 


UGT7     1954  LOT 

LD  21-100m-12,'46(A2012si6)4120 


mum 


383622 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


